Bhubaneswar: Youngsters in the city came together to launch a campaign against the use of plastic on Wednesday.
The young minds under the banner Jai Odisha visited the local schools sensitising students about the harmful effects of plastic.
Around 100 children of various age groups from class I to X were sensitised about usage of plastic and its harmful effects and also about recycling, re-using and refusing plastics. They were also made to pledge to refuse plastic and were encouraged to use paper, cloth or recycled plastic bags as an alternative.
"Our planet is home not only to us. Many other creatures live here, for whom plastic is a menace. Our state witnesses huge migration of olive ridley turtles, which come from the Pacific each year to the coasts of Odisha. As responsible children, we should stop using plastic bags, and also, we promise to make our parents, friends and neighbours aware of the plastic pollution threat," said K. Jitu, a Class V student of Satya Sai School. "This is our first attempt. We shall conduct a series of talks in more private and state-run schools to make children aware of the harmful threat of plastic pollution," said Rudra Samantray from Jai Odisha.
In another development, the teaser of Baji-The Immortal Boat Boy, the story of the youngest martyr of the freedom struggle from Odisha, Baji Rout, directed by Chinmoy Das, was released on Wednesday.
The short film tells the story of the 12-year-old boy, who was shot dead by the British police when he had stood up against them and refused to ferry them across the Brahmani river in 1938.
Baji, born on October 5, 1926 at Nilakanthapur in Dhenkanal district, was courageous enough to face the rifles of the British force.
The story, although it is being told in short, is important for the young generation and inspires them to be patriotic," said Chinmoy.
Arijeet Mishra portrays the role of Baji, while the cast includes Pranab Prasanna Rath, Partha Sarathi Ray, Bhaswati Basu, Vikas Choudhary, Nisikant Nayak, Jagannath Rath, Deepanjali Mohanty and Vicky Vijay.
The film, shot in many locations of Odisha, will be released in October.
