Inter-College Seminar on World No Tobacco day held at GWC, M.A Road, Students have pivotal role in eradicating tobacco menace: Lone

SRINAGAR, JUNE, 01:- Minister for Higher Education, Mr. Mohammad Akbar Lone today enjoined upon the students to play their role for making general masses aware about the hazards and ill effects of smoking and tobacco so that menace of tobacco is eradicated from the State. He said that organising seminars and  awareness camps in the educational institutions will help in curbing this menace to a great extent. He also mentioned that government has also launched initiatives and the smoking in government offices has already been banned.This was stated by the Minister while addressing in a seminar cum inter-college symposium on “Hazards of chewing Gutka”. The function was organized by organized by Voluntary Health organization of India and J&K Voluntary Health Association (JKVHA) in collaboration with District Administration Srinagar and Government Women’s College, M.A Road here today .Among others Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Mr. Farooq Ahmad Shah, Chief Post Master General, Mr. John Samuel, Principal GCW, M.A Road, Mrs. Shaheen Altaf, Executive Director JKVHA, Mr. A M Mir, DIG Civil Defence, Mr. Mubarak Ahmad Ganai, eminent citizens, staff and large gathering of college students from various colleges were present on the occasion.Mr. Lone also underscored the need of to make the anti-tobacco seminar in educational institutes a regular feature to get rid of this nuisance. He stressed upon the students, teachers, stake holders, members of voluntary organizations and other sections of the society to raise their voice in this regard.The Minister said such activities are necessary to make students and people aware about the harmful and hazardous effects of tobacco and other Tobacco products. He enjoined upon the students to play their pivotal role to carry the anti-tobacco message to the society. He asked the colleges to take strict action against students indulging in smoking and use of tobacco products.The Minister lauded the role of voluntary organizations and the participant students for taking active role for this public oriented cause and said such activity can lead towards healthy and sound society.Other speakers also highlighted the ill effects of the smoking and tobacco products. They said that smoking causes health ailments in the form of various diseases besides economic losses to the smokers. They said, use of tobacco products is major cause of various dangerous and horrifying diseases.They suggest that ban on tobacco in  government offices and public places should be implemented strictly and exemplary punishment should be given to the erring employees. They also demanded complete ban on the import of Gutka and tobacco products in the State.On the occasion, students from various colleges also spoke on the topic and expressed their views. Later, the prizes were distributed among the participant students. The first three positions were respectively bagged by Ms Asma Zahoor, of GWC, M A Road, Ms. Samreen from College of Education, Mr. Junaid Yaseen from Islamia College Srinagar. District Development Commissioner, Srinagar and Chief Post Master General also spoke on the topic. Dr Nighat Ara anchored the programme.