Pics by: Joshwa D'souza/Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network-Mangaluru (JD)

Mangaluru, May 31: The president of Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat Meenakshi Shanthigodu inaugurated the 'World No Tobacco Day' in RAPCC auditorium in the Wenlock Hospital premises on Tuesday, May 31.

Speaking on the occasion she expressed her concern about the youth being the victims of smoking. "As long as a kid is in the care of his parents, he is not vulnerable to bad habits like smoking. Once he reaches his adulthood, due to the influence of friends and peer group, he starts smoking and becomes a reason for the ill health of himself and his family," she said.

Deputy Commissioner AB Ibrahim speaking on the occasion stressed on the need to create more awareness to curb the menace of smoking. "It is not enough that we organise programmes like this in the district level, rather we must create awareness in different panchayats so that the awareness is spread at the rural level. We need to stop the usage of tobacco in the school premises and other public places so that its effect is reduced on the budding generation," Ibrahim said.

Mallanna Gowda Patil, senior civil judge and secretary of district legal services authority said that the smokers must not think about the law but about the public health when they are smoking in the public places.

ZP CEO Shreevidya, DHO Dr Ramakrishna Rao, district surgeon Dr Rajeshwari Devi, superintendent of police Bhushan Gulab Rao Borase, ZP vice president Meenakshi Shanthigodu and others were present at the occasion.

The World No Tobacco Day is observed across the world on May 31 every year.