At the first glance, it might seem like a neighbourhood newspaper, but in reality, it’s an awareness pamphlet on the hazards of smoking distributed to the members of the public to mark the ‘World No Tobacco Day’ on Sunday. A joint effort by the Tamil Nadu Health System Project and the World Vision India, the pamphlet running to four pages has various topics on the lines of a newspaper with a heading, caption, cartoons, and even a ‘rasi palan’ column.
“We targeted smokers, particularly petty traders such as fruit vendors and customers at the TASMAC shops,” said V.C.Subash Gandhi, District Project Officer, Tamil Nadu Health System Project. Volunteers of service organisations distributed the pamphlets at the thoroughfares in the town. “The pamphlet also had suggestions to help smokers quit the habit such as walking, yoga, and other health-oriented practices which can help relieve smokers from the clutches of nicotine,” he said. The pamphlet titled ‘Dina Pagai’ would be distributed to the visitors of all government hospitals and primary health centres in the district for the next fortnight.
Earlier, S.Ganesh, District Collector, flagged off an awareness rally in the town. S.Rajasekar, municipal chairman, and Karthick R.Thondaiman, MLA, were present.
