Dehradun: Around 500 students from 10 different schools in the city voiced their concern on civic issues with municipal commissioner Vijay Kumar Jogdande at the nagar nigam office on Monday. In particular, the students complained about piles of garbage and the resultant stench, as well as lack of adequate sanitation facilities in the city.The students were part of a survey called ‘I change my city challenge.’ They were given the task to identify, understand and hold public discussions on any two civil, social or environmental issues prevailing in their vicinity. It was jointly organised by Bengaluru-based Janagraha Foundation and Dehradun-based think tank Gati Foundation.One of the students Mohammed Asad told the commissioner about how he and his friends were disturbed by unattended garbage near their school and the foul smell that emanated from it.“The heaps of garbage dumped by the local residents in front of our school are not being collected by the nigam garbage vans regularly .The unattended garbage leads to foul smell which makes it difficult for us to even breathe,” said Asad, who is a student of CNI Boys School in Paltan Bazaar.“There is just a single dustbin installed in our school premises, which quickly gets filled up. We urgently require a new one,” complained another student of Shahenshahi School.The commissioner assured the students of “taking quick and necessary steps” and applauded them for their initiative. He also spoke to them about the need of having proper waste management facilities at home or at public places and emphasised on minimal use of plastic.“Children are the change agents of society. They are capable of quickly identifying and understanding the civic and social issues around them. At this age, they are full of energy and if guided properly, they can be moulded into responsible citizens tomorrow. I appreciate the initiative and hope that such kind of initiatives are organised on a regular basis,” Jogdande said.

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