Smoking is a suicidal act, worst killer and an anti-society habit. It not only kills the smoker but also affects the health of family, friends and children. This was the message sent across the city on World No Smoking Day on Friday.
Doctors, teachers and police officials came together to tell the youth to stop smoking and start living. They wanted the students to understand how tobacco would lead towards tragedy if they got into the habit of smoking.
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Psychiatric counselling centre Top Kids, along with The American College, conducted an awareness session for the youth and made them take a pledge to remain non-smokers.
“Bad habits are bad masters. Once you get smoking habit at a young age, your life will get co-related to cigarette and it will take control of your life. So, control your mind and never get tempted to smoke,” Samant Rohan Rajendra, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), said, while addressing the students at a meeting organised by Top Kids, along with Rotaract Club of The American College.
He said smoking, which was started to kill time, would ultimately kill the smoker by affecting all vital organs.
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The American College Principal M. Davamani Christober said what began as a style in teenage ultimately damaged the life of Indian youths.
“Quit smoking on the spot and don’t ever touch cigarette for the sake of your family. What is more shocking to me is that young girls too are becoming smokers,” he lamented.
Senior consultant psychiatrist and Top Kids founder Dheep expressed concern that thousands of new smokers in school and college-going age were getting added each year despite knowing that one million Indians died due to tobacco smoking every year.
Sudha Dheep, co-founder, Top Kids, N. Harish and A. Thirumalaikumar, Assistant Commissioners of Police, were among those present.
Earlier, members of Royal Pandyas Biking Club took out a bike rally from K. Pudur to the college, carrying placards against smoking.