A special awareness drive has been launched in Odisha's Ganjam district to ensure that poor school children build a habit of using footwear and stop moving around barefoot. The special drive - "Khalipada Ku Na" (No to barefoot) - is a part of an ongoing programme in which school children are playing a major role by encouraging people to use toilets, said District Education Officer, Sanatan Panda.

It was noticed that several poor students go to school barefoot either due to their parents' lack of awareness or financial constraints. "School headmasters have been asked to hold awareness meetings with parents to ensure that their wards use footwear while going to school for the hygiene and safety of their feet," Panda said. The administration has also requested donors to come forward to adopt a school, gram panchayat or block to provide footwear to poor students.

"Since it is not a government programme, we have urged the donors, including government officials, organisations, political leaders and individuals to raise funds to provide footwear to students," he said. While the district collector has promised to provide children in Chhatrapur town with footwear after the launch of the drive, school teachers in some places arranged shoes for students coming barefoot, Panda said.