Dear Editor,
Vendors are selling tobacco products outside hospitals and educational institution is a common sight and authorities tend to overlook. People can easily be seen buying cigarettes from these outlets. Despite a ban on smoking in public places, the violation is rampant in many parts of the city with tea stalls and Dhabas near educational institutions providing space for it and students in groups can be seen smoking cigarettes there as no one is around to keep a check on this.
The smoking of cigarette is glamorised through advertisements also more and more young boys and girls are attracted by this. Even the ‘statutory warning’ on the cigarette packets does not stop them. Recently, a campaign is going to be organised by radio channel in which people should be made aware about the ill effects. But I wonder it is going to work because on one hand they advertise these products and on other hand starts a campaign against it. The need of the hour is that there should be a complete ban on the manufacturing and advertisements of such products. If manufacturing is stopped it is not available in market and one can’t
consume it.
I feel that there is a strong need to sensitise the public, especially the youngsters. It should be a collective measure. Both the Central and State Governments should take strict measures and put a ban on manufacturing of such products. Moreover, there is need to keep emphasising and raising public awareness to control the tobacco consumption.
Ragini Sharma,
Greater Kailash.
