DMRC Conducts Awareness Drive for Adopting Public Transport

• In the wake of global warming and excessive pollution DMRC motivates children to adopt public transport
• Children enjoyed the show which talked about transformation of a Metro commuter
• Metro Etiquettes instilled among children

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation [DMRC] conducted ‘puppet shows’ aimed at sensitizing children towards use of public transport at Suncity World School, Sec 54 and MatriKiran School, Sec 49, Sohna Road in Gurgaon. The situation of worsening Global warming and excessive increase in pollution levels has been a push factor. The recent Uttrakhand Forest Fires are somehow or the other related to the soaring temperatures. Children were educated on how taking steps to curb usage of private vehicles and going for public transport running on clean energy can contribute in the upkeep of environment. These shows also spread awareness about metro etiquettes. The show was also an initiative to inculcate good manners and etiquettes among the children and create disciplined Metro commuters for the future. More than 300 children from Suncity and MatriKiran School witnessed the puppet show.

Ms. Jyoti Guha, Principal of MatriKiran School said "DMRC's effort is commendable. Students will easily learn about the importance of using the metro and take the message home and inspire the adults. Interactive puppet shows like these are helpful in making our children aware about metro etiquettes and encourage them to educate their siblings, parents, friends, grandparents and neighbours, thus helping in bringing a change in the overall mindset towards public transport."

Hemanya Saini of Grade 5 a student of MatriKiran School was still giggling after the show, he said, “I enjoyed the show a lot, Raju was a bad boy who became good when his sister faced the problem which is caused by people like him.”

The teachers and principal of Suncity World School appreciated DMRC for such initiative and also suggested to conduct such awareness programs on a regular basis. Mrs. Rupa Chakravarty, Principal, Suncity World School said, “This is a great initiative by Delhi Metro; our children enjoyed the shows to the hilt. Etiquette through puppets is a wonderful idea. The push which will be generated through such campaigns would lead to decrease in usage of private vehicles. As more and more people will adopt public transport pollution level will reduce. I hope DMRC does such drives at a regular basis because kids need to imbibe these ideas and it can be through regular exposures”.

The duration of each puppet show was 15 minutes. The Puppeteers were from “Katputli colony” in north Delhi. It showed a metro ride taken by siblings Raju & Babli who encountered different kinds of commuters. Through the conversation of these two puppets, students were told things like not to eat/drink in the metro, to keep metro clean, throw the garbage in the dustbin, to offer seats to women, senior citizens and disabled, not to cross the yellow line while waiting for the metro, let passengers from the metro de board first, not to step on the metro track, not to conduct any activities that disturbs other passengers and also they were made aware about the helpline service and emergency no. provided by metro.Students participated with great enthusiasm and joy. A small quiz was conducted at the end of each show which helped in analyzing how much the children had grasped. After the shows booklets were distributed among the students which had a compilation of a small stories and some important information to be remembered and shared.