Mumbai launches awareness campaign against tobacco

MUMBAI - Banner and posters with colourful paintings with a message on the hazards of tobacco lined up the main thoroughfares of Mumbai on Saturday.

Mumbai Police Commissioner D Sivanandan joined hundreds of volunteer school children in this campaign ahead of World Anti Tobacco Day on May 31.

“First thing I want to do on Monday (World No Tobacco Day) issue a circular saying that action will be taken against those found smoking in public places,” Sivanandan said.

Voluntary organisations like Salam Bombay Foundation that works with children on issues related to tobacco abuse in cooperation with the BEST, heralded this mass campaign.

“Consuming tobacco causes cancer and it is the message we are spreading though the campaign,” said Ashrat, a young volunteer.

Reportedly, around 5 million people die every year from tobacco-related ailments such as heart attacks, strokes and cancer.

According to the WHO, this figure also includes 1.5 million women while another 430,000 adults die annually from exposure to second-hand smoke known as passive smoking and two in three among them happen to be women.

A WHO Treaty in 2003, ratified by 160 countries, recommended imposing a complete ban on advertising, promotion and marketing of tobacco products. Only 26 countries have done so, it said. (ANI)