(This article was first published on 10 November, 2015. It has been republished from The Quint’s archives in light of the Supreme Court’s order to ban the entry of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR for Dussehra and Diwali.)
Siddhartha Rao loves Diwali, but this year he won’t be celebrating it at home. His city is no longer safe for him, and nearly 10 lakh children who suffer from respiratory diseases. Our actions are causing irreparable lung damage to our little ones.
Just four years old, Siddhartha has been in the Intensive Care Unit four times. His memory of last year’s Diwali is of his mother shutting all the windows. This year his neighbours will be bursting crackers in a park right under his bedroom window. His parents don’t want to take a chance. So they’re packing their bags and leaving the city.
Delhi’s children have worse lung capacity than that of regular smokers. Children as young as Siddhartha are developing Asthma before they can even walk.
Is this really how we want our children to grow up?
In this festival of lights, let’s vow to light up Diwali for the lakhs of children in India suffering from respiratory diseases. Say #PatakhaHayeHaye with The Quint.
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