DW BUREAU / Chandigarh Understanding the importance of educating young minds about waste management, MCC had launched an awareness campaign, "Swachhata Ki Paathshala" in which various officers of the the Municipal Corporation address the students in the school and create awareness about the importance of segregation of waste, ban on plastic, home composting and responsibility of the citizen. Within just one month MCC has covered 40 Government and Private schools. With a target of more than 200 schools MCC targets at covering each and every school over the next three months. During these sessions Ms. Anindita Mitra, IAS, Commissioner and other officers of MCC, addressed students between class 6 to 12th and emphasised upon the import of segregation of waste considering the amount of waste being generatedand its negative impact on environment if not segregated. The students were made to understand the concepts using easy examples of chemistry, mathematics and social sciences. The students were designated as monitors of their homes and taught how to inspect the garbage going out of their homes. They were given projects of Home Composting and explained how one can consciously reduce the usage of banned plastic. Slowly and steadily, the concept of collective responsibility of citizens and the MCC started growing. The school authorities were requested to organise competitions for students practicing home composting. Schools with new ideas for composting at source by recycling the unused material at the institution itself, were appreciated. This campaign aims are ensuring that every household of Chandigarh has a young foot soldier who fully comprehends the importance of segregation of waste at source and the plastic ban. This campaign alongwith MC's efforts to do 100% waste processing, shall ensure that Chandigarh emerges as the cleanest city of the country. (editor@dailyworld.in)