CBSE Advises Schools to Say Not to Leather Made Shoes

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued recently an advisory to all schools affiliated to it, directing them to mandate the use of canvas shoes in the school uniform. The board has taken this initiative following a letter written to it by Gauri Maulekhi, the member secretary of ‘People For Animals, Uttarakhand’. Maulekhi, in her letter sent to the CBSE Chairman last month, showed a deep concern to the environmental issues.

Following Maulekhi’s concern, the board acknowledged the seriousness of the issue and released the advisory to all the CBSE schools. The director of CBSE, Sadhna Prashar said, "I hope most of the schools will understand the grave environmental concern behind the advisory and opt for the change".  

While stating that leather comes at a huge cost to environment and animal welfare, the advisory points out that the production of leather involves highly toxic chemicals which can be avoided altogether if leather shoes are not made mandatory in schools. Canvas shoes are more resistant to wear and tear, more comfortable and relatively inexpensive.