New Delhi, Jan 19 (UNI) President of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee Devender Yadav on Monday raised concerns over the persistent air pollution in the Capital and its impact on children’s health.
He attributed the ongoing problem to the failure of governance by the current Delhi administration. He stated that pollution remains a serious year-round issue, criticizing the government for lacking a concrete plan to tackle toxic air.
Yadav argued that while schools are closed under emergency measures when the Air Quality Index (AQI) turns severe, permanent solutions to reduce pollution are not being implemented.
Highlighting the health risks, Yadav pointed out that approximately 26 lakh children study in Delhi government and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) primary schools. Citing health data, he said children in the 0-10 year age group are disproportionately affected by pollution. He also stated that a significant percentage of hospital patients are severely impacted by poor air quality.
The Congress leader called for the immediate reinstatement of a systematic health check-up programme for all students in these schools. He proposed that such screenings would help identify pollution-related illnesses early, with free treatment provided at government hospitals.
Yadav contrasted the current situation with the previous Congress administration in Delhi, claiming it had run a periodic health screening programme for students covering various ailments. He alleged that such initiatives have been neglected for over a decade, disproportionately affecting children from poorer families who cannot afford private healthcare.
