Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB)
Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Udupi, Dec 12: District superintendent of police Sanjeev M Patil launched tobacco control campaign 'Gulabi Andolan 2017’ at a programme organized at Government Girls’ Pre-university College here on Monday, December 11.
The implementation of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003' in district was also hailed on the occasion.
The programmewas organized under the agies of district administration, zilla panchayat, District Health and Family Welfare Department, District Tobacco Control Unit, Public Education Department, Women and Child Development Department, and District Survey Unit, Ajjarkad Udupi.
SP Sanjeev Patil addressing the gathering said, “There is highest number of oral cancer patients reported from India. Over 75,000-80,000 new patients are bringing in oral cancer complaints every day and around 2,000 people are dying because of tobacco consumption.”
He further said, “Smoking habit is increasing in women more than men. The police department has filed 1,700 cases for smoking in public places and 2,500 cases till November.”
“Cigarette smoking is prohibited and selling tobacco within 100 meters surrounding school is also prohibited. Any students can give a call to the police station regarding the same. They will take action against them. If awareness campaigns continue this way, there will be no cases of tobacco consumption or sale in the next four years. The police department will fight against cigarettes and tobacco consumption, until the figure reaches zero,” he said.
“Over 28 % of people use tobacco out of 10 lac population in India. Over 6 lac people face tobacco related diseases. The campaign was held in 1,200 schools last year,” said DHO Rohini, in her keynote address.
Meenakshi Madhava Bannanje, president, City Municipality Council (CMC), Ajjarkad Udupi, Anuradha G, additional deputy commissioner, Yashpal Suvarna, member, CMC, Prakash Andrade, SDMC, vice-president, Government Girls’ Pre-university, Udupi, Sheshayana Karinja, deputy director, Public Education and Dr M Selvarajan, deputy director, State Tobacco Control Unit, Bengaluru were present.
Vishwanath Bayiri delivered the special lecture on ‘Tobacco Control’.
Ramakrishna Nayak compered the programme.