Lack of resources can't curb the spirit of innovation, something that 34 students of BSS Balwari Middle School-Dhanbad proved amply when each of them designed a study aid using discarded household items like plastic bottles and used CDs.

Students of Class VII and VIII of the government school together displayed as many as 34 teaching aids on Tuesday at an exhibition titled, "Dustbin Se TLM Tak" on the terrace of their school building.

Science teacher Dilip Karn, who played a pivotal role in guiding the students, explained how the idea of using waste to make teaching aids came about.

"Every year, the district education department provides each teacher Rs 500 for procuring teaching learning materials (TLM). But, this year there was a delay. So we thought of making TLMs on our own by using unused things lying in our houses," he said, adding that students developed the items within a fortnight by and large on their own with a little help from art teachers Vidyawati Kumari, Parul Rajak and Janak Vishwkarma and himself on the instructions of headmaster Bind Kishor Jha.

Hence Simran Kumari of Class VIIIC used plastic bottles to make a model of a fire extinguisher. "I used an unused plastic bottle lying in the house to make the fire extinguisher cylinder and then wrapped it with a piece of cloth which I painted with alta used by my mother," she said.

Soni Kumari, a class VIIC student, used a CD for her project. "I used a compact disc lying in our house to make a Ganesha model with the guidance of my language teacher Vidyavati Kushwaha," said the daughter of Rajdeo Sharma, a vegetable seller.

Sneha Sharma of Class VIIA, daughter of a carpenter, used maize scalp to create a flower. "I found some maize scalp lying at home and realised I could use it to make a flower. I used colours lying at the home to colour the petals of the model rose flower that can be used to teach parts of a flower and pollination," she said.

Deputy district superintendent of education (DSE) Leela Sinha, who inaugurated the exhibition as chief guest, appreciated the efforts taken by the students as well teachers. "Other schools should learn from the initiative taken by BSS Balwari Middle School," she said.

Science teacher Karn said the students had made a number of products but that they chose to display only 34 TLMs.

"We are also planning to organise a letter writing competition to promote what is essentially a dying practice in this age of SMS and Whatsapp. We will ask students to write on sanitation and use the exercise to highlight the pitiable state of affairs in Dhanbad and send the letters to the corporation in the hope of some action," he said.