Arvind Kejriwal administered an anti-pollution pledge to schoolchildren
Arvind Kejriwal's classroom for Delhi schoolchildren today featured a lesson in fighting pollution and tips on making the odd-even rule click. "Convince your mommy-papa to follow the odd-even rule," the Chief Minister advised.
He also read out a pledge that had students promising not to litter streets and do their best to convince everyone to follow the odd-even rule to be enforced in Delhi from January 1. "If you happen to spot a violation in the next car, then roll down your window and tell them - uncle, please go back home," he suggested, getting giggles from his young audience. "It will be fun too, right?"
For the first 15 days of the New Year, odd cars will be allowed on odd dates and even cars on even dates in the capital, bar Sundays. Mr Kejriwal said many had been skeptical about the efficacy of less cars in cutting down pollution. "But it works. Many people had been thinking of (the odd-even rule) but we had the courage to implement it," he remarked.
Mr Kejriwal, a father of two, shared that his son had asked this morning - "What can we do to help in the odd-even system?"
The Chief Minister urged the children to convince everyone they knew to car pool. "(Delhi Transport Minister) Gopal Rai Ji stays close to my house. We will also share our cars."
He also revealed that his government was planning to start vacuum cleaning on the streets of Delhi from April, "just like in Europe and other countries."
When it was time for a Q and A, Mr Kejriwal was asked - wouldn't the odd-even ban induce people to buy another car?
He demurred: "It is all media creation...How many people in Delhi have the money to buy cars? People save a lifetime to buy a car."
To a child who questioned whether he could ever rise his bicycle to school, given the wayward trucks and buses on the roads, Mr Kejriwal replied that his government was planning to redesign roads and add cycle tracks.
"How about giving Saturdays off too in schools?" a student asked, suggesting that it would also help reduce traffic and pollution.
Mr Kejriwal smiled and said: "We will consider it."