Parents fret over twin threats even as Delhi schools reopen

Air pollution, Covid-19 still a worry but many want their kids to make up for learning losses

- Nirmala Ganapathy

As pollution levels spiked in New Delhi this month, interior designer Sangeeta Chauhan sent her daughter out of the Indian capital and back to her boarding school in the neighbouring state of Rajasthan.

The 16-year-old was returning to school after 19 months as Covid-19 cases remained stable across India. There were 8,309 cases on Sunday, against 400,000 during the peak in April and May.

Ms Chauhan also took her 13-year-old son out of New Delhi twice in the past 11/2 months to escape pollution. It spikes at this time of the year due to conditions such as cold weather, which traps pollutants from sources including stubble burning.

Her son has weak lungs, while her daughter suffers from breathing problems during winter. “I had to send her (back to boarding school) because pollution in Delhi was so terrible... This time it was really bad,” said Ms Chauhan, 50.

Though her daughter escaped the bad air, she fell ill with Covid-19 in school and was sent back home.

“I took her (to school) over a week after Diwali on Nov 14 and within a week she was back with Covid-19,” said Ms Chauhan.