Campaigns By Schools Lead To Decline: Survey Bangalore: Children are ensuring a massive change in our mindset, and how! Anti-cracker campaigns launched by schools across the country have resulted in a 20-25% dip in sale of crackers, says a survey. Although there has been 10%-15% rise in cracker prices, the decline in their demand is being largely attributed to awareness among children who have vowed to abide by their oath to shun firecrackers. Conducted by the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham), the survey team interacted with 150 schools in 15 cities across the country, including Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Bhopal, Jaipur, Kanpur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai and Patna. Almost all schools say they are carrying out various activities and campaigns to educate kids about the ill-effects of bursting crackers, and their harmful impact on the health and environment, the survey observed. Majority of the schools have conducted ‘oath ceremonies’ during morning assembly prayers to dissuade their students from using firecrackers on the school premises and at home. The team also interacted with 200-odd firecracker traders, including retailers and wholesalers, to track the market scenario across cities and towns. “Crackers are the least important item on people’s ‘to-buy’ list today. Rising inflation has left them with little choice,” says DS Rawat, general secretary, Assocham. The survey also points to growing environmental awareness and restrictions by the local administration, along with strict licensing norms, for the slump in demand. Quoting retailers, the survey said: “Considering that there has been a fall in sale of firecrackers for some years now, there are leftover stocks from previous years. Illegal import of crackers from China is further hurting profit margins.”