PATNA: More than 4,000
students from several government and private schools of Patna on
Wednesday took a oath at the Gandhi Maidan against consuming tobacco,
cigarettes, paan, gutka or bidi, to mark the World Cancer Awareness Day. Over 2.5 crore school students across the state simultaneously took the same pledge that was administered by deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi, who urged them not only to avoid tobacco and related products but also request their friends and parents not to use it.
In what is a first of its kind in the country, Modi also advised the teachers against tobacco consumption as they were role models and had a responsibility towards students and society. "More than 2,500 people in our country die everyday due to diseases caused by tobacco and its related products. I would also appeal to the CMs of other states to organize such 'no-tobacco pledge' programmes at school level every year as it will surely have long term benefits," he said.
Bihar is 6th in tobacco consumption across the nation. "Not only Bihar is among the 16 states that has banned 'gutka', the tax here on cigarettes is 20% and we plan to increase it as well to discourage smokers," Modi said, adding, "Cancer to a person devastates his family as all savings are spent on the treatment of the disease."
Modi said he would call a meeting of leading hotel managers to tell them that if people were found smoking at their hotels, they would be fined as well. He advised the children to politely tell the persons smoking at public places that it was prohibited.
The event was telecast at schools in Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Begusarai and Bhagalpur through videoconferencing. Also present on the occasion were Amarjeet Sinha, principal secretary, education department, and noted surgeon Dr A A Hai.
"Students can become an agent of change. We plan to develop a 'Mission Manav Vikas Cadre' in all government schools of Bihar that will sensitize students, parents and teachers on important issues such as safe drinking water, anaemia among girl students and early marriage of girls," Sinha said.
National president of Cancer Awareness Society, T P Sinha said, "Currently 53% of the state population uses tobacco and its products. The state government's decisions to observe a 'Pledge Day' and ban the sale of gutka in the state would help bring down their consumption to 35% (national average) in next three years."
In what is a first of its kind in the country, Modi also advised the teachers against tobacco consumption as they were role models and had a responsibility towards students and society. "More than 2,500 people in our country die everyday due to diseases caused by tobacco and its related products. I would also appeal to the CMs of other states to organize such 'no-tobacco pledge' programmes at school level every year as it will surely have long term benefits," he said.
Bihar is 6th in tobacco consumption across the nation. "Not only Bihar is among the 16 states that has banned 'gutka', the tax here on cigarettes is 20% and we plan to increase it as well to discourage smokers," Modi said, adding, "Cancer to a person devastates his family as all savings are spent on the treatment of the disease."
Modi said he would call a meeting of leading hotel managers to tell them that if people were found smoking at their hotels, they would be fined as well. He advised the children to politely tell the persons smoking at public places that it was prohibited.
The event was telecast at schools in Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Begusarai and Bhagalpur through videoconferencing. Also present on the occasion were Amarjeet Sinha, principal secretary, education department, and noted surgeon Dr A A Hai.
"Students can become an agent of change. We plan to develop a 'Mission Manav Vikas Cadre' in all government schools of Bihar that will sensitize students, parents and teachers on important issues such as safe drinking water, anaemia among girl students and early marriage of girls," Sinha said.
National president of Cancer Awareness Society, T P Sinha said, "Currently 53% of the state population uses tobacco and its products. The state government's decisions to observe a 'Pledge Day' and ban the sale of gutka in the state would help bring down their consumption to 35% (national average) in next three years."
source : PTI
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