About half a million school children have joined a campaign - Say no to fireworks - launched in over 500 schools by the National Foundation of India with UNICEF's support. The campaign aims at liberating thousands of child labourers working on cracker factories, particularly in Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu besides curtailing noise pollution in the Capital.

The response from school children has been overwhelming, the Foundation informs. ``It is a signal to cracker manufacturers that people do not condone the employment of children in hazardous industries. The students realise that a few hours of pleasure they get by bursting crackers on Diwali spells doom for thousands of children in Sivakasi,'' the Foundation says.

Cracker manufacturers employ children in the age group of ten to 14 years and make them work long hours in unhygienic conditions. In a few years,they develop skin and lung diseases. Once they are unfit for work, they are simply replaced by younger, healthier children, the Foundation informs.

The students' resolution has brought relief for the residents who deter the noise and pollution caused by fireworks. Besides, the Capital has been reporting a spurt in asthma and hearing impairment cases during every Diwali festival in the past.

The Central Pollution Control Board has also launched a campaign to educate the people on health hazards posed by fireworks. The figures released by it show that air pollution went up about four times higher than the permissible limits, last Diwali.

The suspended particulate matter (SPM) was recorded at 779 (permissible limit 200), sulphur dioxide at 116 (pl 80), nitrogen oxide at 151 (pl 90) and carbon monoxide at 7790 (pl 2000), the Board said. Besides air pollution, fireworks also caused noise pollution much beyond the permissible limits, it said.

4 kids die in cracker factory blast:

LAKHIMPUR KHERI(UP): Four children were killed and six seriously injured in an explosion in a small cracker factory at Sutehra village in this district last night, police said here on Thursday.

The incident occurred when a burning earthen lamp fell on cracker-making material resulting in a huge explosion, they said, adding four child labourers died on the spot and six were injured seriously.

The injured children have been hospitalised, police said, and added that the matter was being investigated.