Students wait for 2 hrs for rally to begin

The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board department organised a massive plastic eradication awareness rally in Salem district. Over 500 students studying from Class 6 to Class 8 from nearly ten government and aided schools were brought to the collector office premises around 9 am.

The awareness rally was scheduled to start at 9.30 am. But, the event did not start even after 11 am, causing hardship to students. After standing for a few hours under the sun, the students began to show signs of exhaustion. One of the students lamented that they were asked to sit down, but were not given even drinking water. “It was really a long and tiresome wait under the scorching sun. Many girls almost swooned,” said a student. The rally was then flagged off by district Collector Rohini Bhajibhakare. Meanwhile, Masilamani, a freedom fighter from Krishnagiri district tried to participate in the student’s rally by raising slogans on plastic eradication. However, the police forced him away, which triggered a quarrel.