Mangaluru: District Legal Service Authority, District Administration, Zilla Panchayat, District Health and Family Welfare Department, District Police Department, Mangalore Lawyers Guild, Mangalore City Corporation and District Wenlock hospital jointly organized World Anti Tobacco Day, under the slogan “Stop Illicit Trade of Tobacco Products”, at the Police Commissioner’s Office here on May 31.
Prior to the programme a procession was held from District Wenlock hospital which culminated at Police Commissioner’s Office premises.
The programme began with the state Anthem. ACP of Traffic, Uday Nayak welcomed the gathering. The programme was inaugurated by the Chief District Magistrate M G Uma, by lighting the traditional lamp along with other dignitaries on the dais.
Speaking on the occasion, District Health Officer Ram Krishna Rao said that the harm inflicted on the body by use of tobacco and its products is irreversible and awareness about the ill-effects of tobacco needs to be spread to the public. He also shared the statistics related to tobacco deaths in the world and in India. Tobacco is currently responsible for about 5.4 million deaths each year, out of which 1 million deaths are from India. Approximately 40% cancers in men in India are tobacco related, while over 60% of those suffering from heart disease below the age of 40 years are smokers. India has one of the highest rates of oral cancer in the world, with 90% of the patients being tobacco chewers. There are various ways of controlling, eliminating smoking addiction.
Rao also explained the sections under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (COTPA) Act like Section 4 – prohibition of smoking of tobacco in public places, except in special smoking zones in hotels, restaurants and airports and open spaces; Section 5 – prohibition of promotion of all tobacco products; Section 6 – prohibiting the sale of tobacco to persons below the age of 18 years, and in places within 100 metres radius from the outer boundary of an institution of education; and, Section 7 – products must be sold, supplied or distributed in a package which shall contain an appropriate pictorial warning, its nicotine and tar contents. He also said, “We need to motivate, inspire and counsel those who smoke to get rid of it. In the coming days, I hope that we can eliminate smoking from the district, country and ultimately, the world.”
Chief District Magistrate M G Uma said, “We hear and see about ‘tobacco kills’ in the internet and other forums. But, we need to search hard to get the statistics and details of deaths that take place due to the use of tobacco and its products. While, bad and unnecessary stuff that is really not needed is promoted such that it is always a touch away on our phones or computers. Smoking does not just harm the person doing it, but it also poses danger to those around like family, friends, and the public through passive smoking. Years ago, if you would tell a person smoking in public to not do so, it would be seen as a crime. But today, the situation is a little better. Today’s youth closely follow and imitate the actions of their role models, be it cricketers, actor, etc. Only in movies, can a person with bad habits give it all up in an instant and become good. But in real life, it is not so. In real life, it is very tough to give up smoking and could take atleast 15-20 years for those with the addiction.”
DC Ibrahim speaking on the occasion said, “Youth organizations should organize tobacco awareness programmes to give a true meaning in the fight against tobacco usage, since most of the youth are addicted to such habits. Ten lakh deaths in India is a huge number; some countries do not even have a 10 lakh population. We need a mass movement to reduce tobacco usage.” He also suggested that we need to bring laws to ban sale of single cigarettes as done in other countries, to reduce cigarette consumption.
SP Sharanppa and lawyer Changappa also spoke on the occasion. There was a PowerPoint presentation thereafter on tobacco and its ill-effects.