Nobody is born with hate or apathy towards animals in their heart. Children learn it from those around them,” says animal activist Akshay Ridlan. Is it possible, then, to act quicker and teach them compassion at the right time? France seems to have taken a timely step in the direction, by making pet care and animal welfare mandatory topics in school curriculum. While no major education board in India mandates such lessons, a handful of schools are going the extra mile.

Ridlan is gearing to address 600 students of the Guru Nanak Higher Secondary School and Junior College in Sion’s GTB Nagar on Friday. “Children are subjected to immense stress at a very young age in today’s competitive world. This paves the way for emotions like frustration, hate, and indifference to seep in as they grow up,” Ridlan reveals.