Tobacco reportedly causes five million deaths every year. China, Russia and India together have more than 609 million tobacco users. It is estimated that half of all those, who smoke today will eventually be killed by direct or indirect effects of tobacco. To create awareness among the youth, the World Lung Foundation (WLF) in association with Hans Raj College organised inter-college declamation contest themed on anti-tobacco. DUSFI, a joint venture of Delhi University, Delhi Police and WLF-South Asia (WLF-SA) now covers 83 colleges of Delhi University (DU).
Till now, 27 hoardings at all entry/exit points to North Campus indicating entry to tobacco free zones and 199 boards at the entry/exit points to the college/department of DU indicating ‘No smoking zone' have been placed. In 67 colleges, dedicated Nodal Officers (NO's) from 56 colleges and in about 38 colleges, tobacco free brigade (TFB) members have been appointed.
G.R. Khatri, President, WLF-SA, says, “Male smokers have decreased from 18.3 per cent in 2008 to 15.7 per cent in 2010 and amongst female, from 3.2 per cent in 2008 it has come down to 2.8 per cent in 2010. It is the youth that is being targeted by the tobacco companies and this is the age in which one takes to tobacco.” WLF-SA is also running eight tobacco help centres in Delhi and in Uttarakhand. Health programmes on Delhi University Community Radio with a special focus on tobacco, banners, calendars, and flip charts are the other tools, DUSFI is using in its crusade against the deadly killer.
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