NTCP School Tobacco Awareness Campaign in Bulandshaher

ICanWin Foundation – Win over Tobacco – NTCP-STCC UP School Tobacco Awareness program under the leadership of the CMO / Nodal Officer District Tobacco Control Cell (DTCC) Bulandshahar was conducted by Mr. R N Mishra, ICANWIN Foundation-ICanCaRe team. The event was conducted in various schools of Bulandshahar. More than 200 students and teachers attended the program and took pledge “Not To Take Tobacco In Any Form” to make the society Tobacco Free. ‘Jagruk Rahen Prarambh Naa Karen’ booklet from ‘BE SMART DO NOT START’ series, written by Dr Pawan Gupta, MCh, was distributed to the students. A Tobacco Control Committee was formed under the leadership of the Principals who are entrusted to monitor violation and activities related to tobacco and report it to the CMO / Nodal Officer – DTCC for appropriate action and advice. The teachers and students participated in the interactive workshop involving a lot of case studies from the locality and also shared their experience with tobacco users. Students and the teachers as well vowed to do all their best to mobilize the society in order to ‘Win over Tobacco’ when they realized that tobacco is not only addictive but is a disease that captures more than 2000000 youth who start taking tobacco and kills more than 1000000 Indians every year. The students reacted positive towards eradication of tobacco from society after learning that India is the hub of Oral cancer and its major cause is from chewing Pan masala and tobacco, the Indian way. Student volunteers have assured to keep an watch on tobacco activities in and around the school and act as scouts for the School Tobacco Control Committee. A quiz competition was conducted and students participated with enthusiasm and responded well. The activity is a strong step towards a “Clean, Green, Healthy and Lively India” making the society Tobacco Free.