(IN): School boards ready to kick leather, give canvas a shoo-in

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http://www.indianexpress.com/news/school-boards-ready-to-kick-leather-give-canva\

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<http://www.indianexpress.com/news/school-boards-ready-to-kick-leather-give-canv\

as-a-shooin/615226/>School

boards ready to kick leather, give canvas a shoo-in

 

<http://www.indianexpress.com/news/school-boards-ready-to-kick-leather-give-canv\

as-a-shooin/615226/>

*Anubhuti Vishnoi <http://www.indianexpress.com/columnist/anubhutivishnoi/>*

*Tags :

School<http://www.indianexpress.com/news/school-boards-ready-to-kick-leather-giv\

e-canvas-a-shooin/615226/>

,

Kids<http://www.indianexpress.com/news/school-boards-ready-to-kick-leather-give-\

canvas-a-shooin/615226/>

,

Shoes<http://www.indianexpress.com/news/school-boards-ready-to-kick-leather-give\

-canvas-a-shooin/615226/>

,

Leather<http://www.indianexpress.com/news/school-boards-ready-to-kick-leather-gi\

ve-canvas-a-shooin/615226/>

,

Canvas<http://www.indianexpress.com/news/school-boards-ready-to-kick-leather-giv\

e-canvas-a-shooin/615226/>

**Posted: Wednesday, May 05, 2010 at 0229 hrs**New Delhi:*

 

<http://www.indianexpress.com/news/school-boards-ready-to-kick-leather-give-canv\

as-a-shooin/615226/>

 

Seen as “environmentally hazardous”, “unhealthy” and an “uncomfortable”

vestige of the colonial empire, black, shiny leather shoes may soon be off

school campuses across India. Instead, white canvas shoes, so far reserved

for Physical Education lessons, may take their place in school uniform sets.

 

A proposal to the effect, moved by MP and animal rights activist Maneka

Gandhi, is learnt to have found favour with the prominent school boards

Central Board of School Education (CBSE) and Council for the Indian School

Certificate Examination (CISCE).

 

Most schools in the country — private and government — have been stipulating

black leather shoes as mandatory items in school uniform for years now. The

People For Animals (PFA), which has been spearheading an anti-leather

campaign, says the largest group of leather users are schoolchildren. PFA’s

campaigns have already influenced 16 schools in Chennai to stop use of

leather shoes, while a similar campaign is on in Chandigarh.

 

Maneka Gandhi has been advocating that leather shoes be kept out of school

uniforms for a while now, and had written to the Union Human Resource

Development (HRD) Ministry in July 2009 protesting against their “rampant”

use.

 

“This decision was forced on Indians by the British. It is a decision that

is not just unhealthy for children but environmentally very dangerous,”

Maneka had written.

 

Saying that the switch from leather shoes to canvas would also help “save

parents’ money and is much healthier for children”, the Lok Sabha MP

suggested that the HRD Ministry issue an executive order asking schools to

opt for canvas shoes in uniform instead of leather ones.

 

The HRD Ministry had then written to school boards asking for their views on

the issue.

 

While Gerry Arathoon, Additional Secretary and Officiating Chief Executive

and Secretary of CISCE, has said the board agrees with Maneka’s views and

calls leather shoes “unhealthy” and “environmentally hazardous”, the CBSE

has gone ahead and listed a litany of complaints against leather shoes.

 

According to the board, these shoes stink as they are unable to absorb

sweat, attract fungus, require frequent polishing, gather dust too often,

that children rub dirty shoes on to their socks, forcing difficult washing

procedures, that the shoe polish is packed with toxic chemicals, and even

that tanneries are hubs for dermatitis and other diseases, which affect

workers.

 

The CBSE has also pointed out that leather shoes need to be changed when

students go walking or out to play and overall contribute to a larger carbon

footprint.

 

The fact that the making of leather shoes involves cruelty against animals

was also a key point stacked against them.

 

On the other hand, canvas shoes have been praised for the fact that they are

washable, comfortable, flexible, easy to walk in, absorb sweat better and

that their polish is eco-friendly.

 

Views of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan and Navodaya Vidyalaya Sangathan

are awaited by the ministry.

 

 

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