UditVani, Jamshedpur: An informative Tobacco Control Awareness Programme was organised at Loyola School, Telco, with the objective of sensitising students to the harmful effects of tobacco consumption and encouraging the adoption of a healthy, tobacco-free lifestyle.
The programme was conducted under the guidance of the Chief Medical Officer-cum-Civil Surgeon, East Singhbhum, as part of the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), an initiative of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, in collaboration with the Education Department, Government of Jharkhand.
The session began with a welcome address by Shubham Ghosal, following which an interactive and insightful discussion was led by Mousumi Chatterjee, District Consultant, NTCP, East Singhbhum, and Kundan Kumar, Social Worker, NTCP.
The speakers drew attention to how children and adolescents have increasingly become soft targets of the tobacco industry through attractive advertising, celebrity endorsements, and misleading depictions in films and television that often associate tobacco use with glamour, style, and social status.
They cautioned that addiction is not age-specific and highlighted the growing exposure of children as young as 10 to 12 years to substance abuse.
Tobacco, they explained, is medically recognised as a gateway to multiple forms of addiction.
The speakers also elaborated on the dangers of both active and passive smoking, stressing that toxic particles linger in the air, cling to clothing, and can even adversely affect pets.
Addressing the severe health consequences, the resource persons pointed out that India is considered the oral cancer capital of the world and that tobacco consumption damages nearly every organ of the human body, significantly reducing life expectancy.
Emphasis was also laid on the crucial role of parents and guardians as responsible role models, as children tend to imitate adult behaviour at home and in society.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Niharika Nandy, who reiterated the importance of sustained education and awareness in nurturing a healthy, responsible, and tobacco-free generation.
