About 600 girl students of the Z.P. High School in Kuppam on Thursday took an oath that they would shun the traditional practice of throwing old and used clothes into the Bhogi fire this year, and would donate the goods to the Police Department-administered Charity Wall at District Headquarters Hospital in Chittoor.
Superintendent of Police S.V. Rajasekhar Babu organised a get-together of students at the high school on the eve of Sankranti vacation. He said that young minds could be tuned better with positive thoughts.
“Students are already playing a crucial role in spreading the message of road safety and helmet-rule. Now, we want to introduce them the concept of charity. The Charity Wall zone created at the Chittoor hospital is a runaway hit with the public. Hundreds of people are responding to the requirements of patients and also the poor and needy by donating rice, provisions, clothes and other goods. During Bhogi festival, several families throw the old stuff such as clothes, books, shoes and school bags into the fire, and much of the stock would be very much useful to the needy,” he said.
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The SP said that by encouraging the students to stop this practice and have a look at the requirement of the poor and needy sections, “we would be doing a lot to them with goods for which they might be look for.” He said that similar get-togethers with students would be planned all over the district to spread the message of charity.
Special Branch official (Kuppam) D.G. Ramurthy administered the oath to the students. He said that the students were also cautioned not to venture near water bodies for a swim without parents or guardians during the vacation. The students were also given orientation to bring pressure on their parents to wear helmet.