Would you pay extra for cleaner air in your child’s classroom As air pollution returns as a major concern across Delhi-NCR, schools and parents are once again faced with the question of how to protect children during the months of deteriorating air quality. While schools may restrict outdoor activities, the need to ensure cleaner air inside classrooms remains equally important. A recent post on X by a parent named Anirudh caught our attention, highlighting how families at a Delhi-NCR school were reportedly planning to pool money to buy Dyson, Honeywell and Sharp air purifiers for Nursery classrooms. The development raised a larger question: should parents have to pay extra to ensure their children breathe cleaner air at school? Times Now Digital spoke to parents of students across different age groups to understand whether they would be willing to contribute towards the cost and who they believe should be responsible for providing a safe learning environment. Would Parents Pay Extra For Classroom Air Purifiers? Diksha, a Noida resident whose child studies in Class 1 at LPU Global School, said she would be comfortable contributing around Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 towards purchasing air purifiers. Even if the amount were higher, she indicated that she would consider paying because her child's safety would take priority. "Karna toh padega hi. Bachhon ki safety important hai," she said. However, she believes schools should ideally be responsible for providing a safe and breathable environment, particularly when parents are already paying substantial fees. "I think if we are already paying the school so much, they should be the ones to ensure that the children are in a safe and breathable environment," she said. Seema, whose child studies in Class 9 at a Noida school, also said she would be willing to contribute a nominal amount if the school genuinely needed additional funds to install good-quality air purifiers. However, she expects transparency about how the money is spent and how the equipment is maintained. "If we are sending our children to these schools with the trust that they will ensure their safety, it is only fair to expect schools to be transparent with us," she said. She also cautioned against making such contributions compulsory, pointing out that not every family may be able to afford the additional expense or may be willing to pay. "That should not mean that their children have to suffer or be deprived of a safe learning environment," she added. For Seema, installing purifiers is only one part of the solution. Schools should also monitor indoor air quality, maintain purification systems, restrict outdoor activities during hazardous conditions and consider hybrid or online classes when pollution remains severe for several days. Rajesh Singh, whose daughter studies in Class 11, takes a firmer position. He said he would be unhappy if the school asked parents to pay separately for air purifiers.