MUMBAI: If this Diwali is just that little bit less noisy, an NGO called Andhashradha Nirmulan Samiti (Superstition Eradication Samiti) can take some of the credit. Thanks to the samiti’s initiative, well over one lakh students across the state have signed a pledge, promising that they will either not burst firecrackers or drastically cut expenditure on them.

The 'Cracker-free Diwali campaign' was launched nearly two months ago, with samiti activists personally visiting over 500 schools in 16 districts, including Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Nashik, Latur and Aurangabad, to expound on the ill-effects of firecrackers to students. "We told them that crackers cause tremendous air and noise pollution, trouble animals and senior citizens, and result in fatal accidents.

Above all, we impressed upon them the fact that these crackers are manufactured by child labourers in the age group of five to 15," Samiti chairman Narendra Dabholkar told TOI.

The activists were "overwhelmed" by the students' response.

source: TOI