As part of a nationwide campaign, more than 13,715 school students took a pledge against tobacco on 7 August, 2014. This was initiated by two anti cancer NGOs – Nanhey Farishtey from Indore and Indian Cancer Society, which has its national headquarters in Mumbai.
The pledge said, “In India, tobacco products are responsible for causing one million deaths every year. The Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS 2009-10) by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt of India shows that 35 per cent of the adult Indian population is consuming tobacco. In India, 5500 children fall prey to and start using Tobacco every day.
I pledge my support to fight this growing menace with all my strength and conviction. I will raise my voice against tobacco and help prevent cancer. I will not allow ‘Chewing and/or Smoking Tobacco’ in my life, family, community or country. I will help save millions of Indian lives.”
The largest group was in Indore, where 44 schools participated in a massive public anti-tobacco pledge in the presence of Health Minister of Madhya Pradesh.
Schools students from Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Satna, Darjeeling, Bhubaneswar, Matigara and several districts of Bihar also participated in the campaign.
EH News Bureau
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