Date:08/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/08/stories/2009010859180400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

“Educate school students on ill-effects of smoking”

Staff Reporter

Project ’Reaching out to Society and Parents through Schoolchildren’ launched

— Photo: M.Karunakaran

Right course: J.Chandrasekaran, CGM (LHO) of SBI handing over a cheque to V.Shanta, Chairperson of Adyar Cancer Institute (WIA) at the launch of an orientation programme for teachers and NSS programme officers on tobacco control in schools in Chennai on Wednesday.

CHENNAI: A project, `Reaching out to the Society and Parents through School Children’ was launched at the Adyar Cancer Institute (WIA) on Wednesday with a day-long orientation programme for school teachers and National Service Scheme programme officers.

Speaking on the occasion, V. Shanta, Chairperson of the Institute, said that a total of 25 crore Indians used tobacco of which 10 lakh people died every year due to tobacco-related diseases. Of them 4 lakh to 5 lakh died of cancer.

Expressing concern over 30 per cent of school staff being smokers, she said since they were the role models for the students they should quit smoking. It was the duty of parents and school staff to educate students on the ill-effects of tobacco and prevent them from becoming tobacco users.

Dr. Shanta said that under the programme youngsters aged between 12 and 20 would be targeted.

J. Chandrasekaran, Chief General Manager, Local Head Office, State Bank of India, said it was important to keep on driving home information about the dangers of smoking. He presented a cheque for Rs.5.83 lakh towards the programme.

Tobacco Cessation Centre Principal Investigator E.Vidhubala said that children from 200 randomly chosen schools would be part of the programme, which would run for a year in three phases.