Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, May 2:

The Free Students Campaign (FSC) today lau-nched a week-long ‘boot polishing’ programme, a symbolic fund-raising ca-mpaign, to draw the government’s attention to

provide relief to the conflict-hit students who have been deprived of education.

Each student taking part in the campaign polished around five pairs of shoes at a minimum charge of Rs 3 a pair. Students studying in grade 10 to Master’s level participated in the programme.

The students were carrying placards that read — ‘declare schools as zone of peace’, ‘let the students study in peaceful learning environment’ and ‘provide education to conflict-hit students’.

Bishwonath Rijal, general secretary of the Free Students Campaign, said the programme was basically organised as a tool to get the government’s attention to bring some programmes for the conflict-hit students.

“Many students have been deprived of education due to the conflict. Even though the right

to health facilities and education are basic rights, schools have become battlegrounds for the Maoists. Effective programmes need to be launched to stop the situation from further deterioration,” he said.

Shanker Katwal, president of the campaign, said the symbolic campaign will go for at least a week.

If the results turned out to be successful, they plan to form a committee to extend the programme so that the students could give continuity to the programme.

Besides, the campaign is also a symbolic protest against the educated unemployment in the country, he said.

“The schools have always been targeted by the political parties and other bodies as a means to meet their demands and the trend needs to be immediately stopped,” Katwal said.