City schools plan to boycott Chinese goods

Amidst growing tensions between India and China on the border front, a group of school principals in the city have decided to ban the use of Chinese products amongst students and parents.

The Mumbai School Principals Association , a body of 1,900 principals has decided to appeal to students and principals to boycott Chinese products like pens, colours and other stationery items amongst other things.

“With the Chinese government using its military might against India, as citizens, we should ensure that we do not help the Chinese economy to grow. The association has thus asked all school heads in the city and teachers to spread the message of ‘Say no to Chinese goods’ to children and their parents,” said Prashant Redij, Secretary of the Association.

In the days to come, principals and teachers will also conduct awareness sessions with students and their parents regarding the issue. “A large number of items that students use on an everyday basis are China manufactured — including fancy tiffins, pencil boxes, and water bottles. These products can be widely seen in the markets these days. If parents conciously decide to buy local products, it will boost our own economy instead of contributing to the Chinese economy,” added Redij.

City principals welcomed the initiative and said that it will benefit the Indian economy while condemning China’s actions at the same time. “Chinese goods are very easily available in the market today at much cheaper rates than that of local goods but are very poor in quality. Generating awareness will encourage to buy good quality products,” said Swapna Trailokya, Principal, Parle Tilak Vidyalaya