St. Mira’s Primary School Children Ride Pune Metro to Promote Animal Rights on World Animal Day

Pune, 4th October 2024: In celebration of World Animal Day, a group of 100 children from St. Mira’s Primary School took a unique approach to spreading awareness for animal rights by riding the Pune Metro. The young students, aged 8 to 9, boarded the metro at Ruby Hall Station and traveled to Civil Court Station, making the journey a meaningful rally for a cause close to their hearts.

The children held up colorful placards and chanted slogans like “Birds and animals are our brothers and sisters,” “Save animals, Save Earth,” and “Shoot with a camera, not with guns.” Their enthusiasm and messages captured the attention of fellow commuters, as the students aimed to raise awareness about animal rights and the importance of compassion for all living creatures.

World Animal Day, which commemorates the anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi, a patron saint of animals, provided the perfect backdrop for the event. The students also honored Pune’s own Sadhu Vaswani, a well-known advocate for animal rights. They urged commuters to join them in pledging to go meatless for at least one day on November 25, the birthday of Sadhu Vaswani, as a gesture of respect for animals.

One student passionately explained the motivation behind their efforts: “We should stop killing animals for our meals and taking their skin for our dresses. Instead, we should take care of them, feed them, and love them. I want everyone to do the same.”

Ruby Karna, the school principal, emphasized the strategic decision to engage the public in a space where people are often waiting for trains, making it easier to capture their attention. “This not only helps in spreading awareness but also instills in the children the values of kindness and compassion toward all living beings. When they take the extra effort to convince others, they will themselves remember it for a longer time,” she noted.

The children’s infectious enthusiasm left a lasting impact on the community, fostering a deeper understanding of the importance of animal rights and vegetarianism. Their message of kindness resonated with commuters, who were invited to reflect on their relationship with animals and join the students in their mission to create a more compassionate world for all living beings.