Mumbai police launch initiative for smoke-free police stations

Mumbai, May 30 (UNI) Mumbai Police Commissioner D N Jadhav, in a bid to stem the menace of increasing use of tobacco products, especially within his own workforce, today kicked off an anti-tobacco initiative in association with Salaam Bombay Foundation to make smoke-free police stations in the metropolis.

The campaign was flagged off on the eve of World No Tobacco Day, which is observed on May 31 every year.

Calling the society to desist the temptation of smoking and use of tobacco products, Mr Jadhav said statistics reveal that every second two children in the country try out tobacco.

''I would ask both, who are into the habit of using any kind of tobacco product as well as those who have never tried it out to desists the temptation,'' he said.

Mr Jadhav also said, apart from sensitisation programme, which include placing of anti-tobacco posters at police stations, frequent circulars will also be issued from his office to make the policemen aware of the campaign.

''If you want some person to give up certain habits, nothing works more than the peer pressure. Nevertheless, we will keep on issuing circulars at different intervals to make the campaign a success,'' he said.

Maharashtra Government Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Amitabh Chandra said it was a matter of great pleasure that Mumbai Police had been making concerted efforts to reduce smoking habits and use of tobacco products.

On this occasion, some 28 policemen and eight sub-inspectors from different Police stations also took pledge not to consume the tobacco in any form, and also not let others get into the habit.

Under the campaign, the tobacco free police station initiative would involve sensitisation of the police personnel by placing the anti-tobacco posters inside the police stations. It would be implemented in all 13 zones of Mumbai Police.

In additions to these initiatives, Salaam Bombay Foundation will also start de-addiction programmes, educational workshops and seminar for each zone.

Expressing her appreciation for the Mumbai Police for joining hands with the Foundation in order to make the city smoking-free, Salaam Bombay Foundation Director Padmini Somani said, '' The regular awareness programme will help the police understand the issue in totality and also spread greater awareness on the rising problem of tobacco consumption.'' In order to make people aware of the dire consequences of tobacco consumption, Foundation activists also performed a street play, highlighting the ill-effects of tobacco.

According to statistics, some 14 crore men and four crore women in India use tobacco products. And out of the total 50 lakh deaths every year world over due to tobacco consumption, some two lakh occurred in India alone.

UNI