The World No Tobacco Day will be observed on Saturday, amid rising figures of tobacco consumption and related hazards.
According to the State Anti-Tobacco Cell, Karnataka, India is the second largest producer and consumer of tobacco in the world after China with 275 million tobacco users. Statistics also show that 34.6 per cent of adults use some form of tobacco in India. In the State, five per cent of women (against the national average of 11 per cent), and 45 per cent men (against the national figure of 57 per cent) consume some form of tobacco.
A number events has been planned for the day. To push for the logic of “quit smoking and save money to explore the world”, Mantri Square displayed a 15-foot tall replica of the Eiffel Tower made of dummy cigarettes to create awareness on the merits of quitting smoking.
As part of a pledge to promote the theme, a 20-foot “I quit smoking” formation — a larger-than-life stencil — has been put up. Customers can volunteer to make a donation of any amount after which they will be given equal amount of coins to stack in the stencil. The entire amount raised from the number of coins filled will be contributed to the Indian Cancer Society, a release said.
An awareness campaign has been organised by the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation and the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation at the Kempe Gowda Bus Station in collaboration with Narain Sewa Sansthan and the Karnataka Transportation Department. Students and staff from Sindhi College, Noble School of Business, Don Bosco Group of Institutions and Jyoti Nivas College will participate in an anti-tobacco signature campaign at counters where monthly passes are issued.
There will be screening of anti-tobacco and oral cancer-relateddocumentaries in the waiting area. A rally has been organised which will be flagged off by C.N. Aswathnarayan, MLA from Malleswaram, at the Malleswaram Grounds. The rally will end at Seshadripuram College. Kidwai Institute of Oncology will hold a magic show on the day.
