Kick leather,go for canvas shoes: Himachal tells schools

“If the response is good,we will frame proper guidelines and make it mandatory,” said Director of Education O P Sharma.

The idea of doing away with leather shoes was mooted by MP and animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi and found favour with the Central Board of School Education (CBSE) and Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE).

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said he had read media reports and had issued directions to the Education department to examine the possibilities of shunning environmentally hazardous and unhealthy black leather shoes.

“There are better alternatives available for children who are our ambassadors for environmental consciousness,” said Dhumal,who two months ago had got an environmental code introduced in schools.

“I think the move will be received with a lot of enthusiasm. It has been proved that leather shoes are made after slaughtering animals and these also cause hazards,” said Sharma.

Maneka Gandhi had written to the Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry in July 2009 protesting the use of leather shoes. “This decision was forced on the Indians by the British. It is a decision that is not just unhealthy for children but environmentally very dangerous,” Maneka had written. The HRD Ministry had then written to school boards seeking their views on the issue.

Himachal’s Director (Environment) Nagin Nanda said: “If leather shoes are banned in schools it will contribute immensely to the cause of environment,and Himachal will set a new example in the country,” he said.