NEW DELHI: Warrior Moms, a network of mothers fighting for clean air, has urged the Union ministry of health and family welfare to issue a public health advisory on air pollution within 48 hours, calling for clear, actionable guidance for children and families.In a letter to the ministry on Saturday, the group demanded that the advisory specify Air Quality Index (AQI) and PM2.5 thresholds—such as AQI 200 and above 300—at which children should remain indoors, the types of masks suitable for outdoor use and warning signs that require urgent paediatric attention.

“Our children are waking up coughing, missing school due to asthma attacks and wearing masks even on playgrounds because the air they breathe is toxic. We did not choose activism; necessity drove us to this cause. Each winter, our children’s lungs fill with PM2.5 while official health guidance has remained unchanged since Oct 2023,” the letter stated.The group also urged the ministry to issue directives to paediatricians and hospitals to strengthen pollution-related health screening. They recommended that doctors include air-quality exposure history—such as local PM2.5 and AQI levels—in paediatric assessments and counsel families on prevention and care.Bhavreen Kandhari, a representative of Warrior Moms, said the ministry’s silence on Delhi’s worsening air pollution was “sending the wrong message”.“The health ministry has a duty to protect citizens’ health. With no updated advisory, families think it’s safe to step out without masks, even as the air is thick with PM2.5. Schools are holding outdoor sports and running events when children should be protected. This inaction isn’t just neglect—it’s normalising a public health emergency. The ministry must urgently speak, guide, and act,” she said.