Efforts to turn parks & public places into no-smoking zones
Kolkata: MMIC Parks and Gardens Debasish Kumar emphasised on making parks and public places no-smoking zones across city as he interacted with students on the occasion of Children's Day on Thursday.
"The Central and state government are spending crores of rupees on advertisements to stop the use of tobacco and its harmful effects. After watching the advertisements, are they (people) quitting smoking or stopping its use? If the children take the initiative to spread awareness, it will be more effective," said Kumar while interacting with the schoolchildren during a function held on the occasion of Children's day at Lions Children Park.
Children's Day, which us birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru, was celebrated across India on November 14. Kolkata Municipal Corporation in collaboration with an NGO named MANT organised a magic show and oath-taking ceremony to stop the use of tobacco among schoolchildren at the Children's Day at Lions Children Park.
"We have declared this park (Lions Children Park) as a smoke-free zone on World No Tobacco Day this year. There are a number of public places in the city to be declared smoke free," Kumar said.
He reiterated that rather than smoking in a bid to reduce appetite or to stay slim they (girls and women) should exercise to burn calories.
"When we were children only 0.1 percent women used to smoke. They used to
smoke occasionally. There were no regular smokers then. Today, smoking tendency among women has increased a lot," Kumar said.
It might be mentioned that the Kolkata Municipal Corporation has proposed to launch massive awareness campaigns and oral health check-ups in every ward. The corporation will also urge the police to ensure that no tobacco is sold within 100 metres near the premises of educational institutions. "We are thankful to Mr Kumar for attending the programme and enlightening the schoolchildren about the harmful effects of tobacco," said Nirmalya Mukherjee, director of MANT.
