Tales on hygiene from Japan leave students spellbound

New Delhi: Primary school children on Monday were given lessons on hygiene and environment-friendly practices, through a story-telling session featuring an elderly Japanese woman onboard Delhi Metro.

The storytelling session, based on a children's picture book 'Mottainani Grandma', was organised by National Book Trust (NBT), in collaboration with Japanese publishing house Kodansha Ltd, with support from Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and Japan International Cooperation Agency.

The picture book by Mariko Shinju, who pens a regular illustrated column 'Mottainai baa-san nikki' (Mottainai Grandma Diary) in the Mainichi Shimbun, is about an elderly lady who spots wasteful behaviour.

The book was published in India by NBT, under a license agreement with Kodansha.

Over 100 students from Muni International School, Bal Bharti Public School - Dwarka, Vidya Anand Niketan –Swaranjali Vidya Mandir - Khanpur and a few NGOs that work for children with special needs participated in the event, held inside a Delhi Metro train.

The objective was to promote environmental awareness amongst children and people across the society through interesting story-telling methodology. It was held on the eve of the UN World Environment Day, celebrated all over the world on June 5.