“No Bag Day was first started in 2020, but due to the pandemic it had to be stopped, but now it will be started again across the state and the process is being finalised. The aim is to give students a platform where they can identify themselves outside of classroom education or develop new skills. This can be done through art, poetry, dramatics, sports, public speaking; all options are being kept,” said a senior official from the education department.
As part of the initiative, the themes planned include Rajasthan ki Pehchan where children will learn about the history, culture, geography of the state; Khelega Rajasthan, Badhega Rajasthan, and I am a Scientist to nudge children to question their surroundings with a scientific lens. Developing language skills and value education is another theme. For the last Saturday of the month, Bal Sabha or community learning has been planned so that children can engage in their villages or localities to showcase their skills.
The school education and medical and health department will also jointly work for awareness in students through a 60-day ‘Tobacco and Drug Free Youth Campaign’. Officials said that under this campaign, students will be motivated to monitor anti-tobacco activities not only in their own school premises but also in their surrounding areas, so that children can be motivated to stay away from tobacco addiction. The in-charge of educational institutions and teachers will be given the responsibility of keeping the school premises completely tobacco free.
