from Ares
for Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (GA)

Panaji, May 26: Intensifying their crusade, a national anti-tobacco Non-Government Organisation has launched a massive awareness programme in the state with the help of private FM channels.
 
National Organisation for tobacco eradication (NOTE) has joined hands with state's private FM channels, Radio Mirchie and Big FM, for anti-tobacco movement in the state where annually 10,000 people lose their life because of tobacco related cancer.
 
"A simple administrative order by central government can cap the entire issue to a great extend. What we require is ban on on-screen smoking," NOTE general secretary Dr Shekhar Salkar told reporters at Miramar beach where NGO along with Radio Mirchie had taken up awareness drive on Sunday May 25 evening.

Quoting a study done by NGOs -- Hriday and Shan, Dr Salkar said that in 54 per cent of cases smoking is initiated in youth imitating their screen icon.
 
"Page three crowd always feel that their creativity will be hampered if smoking is banned. But it is not the case; it's just an excuse,"  Salkar said toeing the line of union health minister A Ramadoss who has taken up cudgel against stars smoking on screen.
 
Incidently, the campaign has come at the time when both the private FM channels have completed their year of existence in Goa. While jingles are continuously aired on the channel preaching anti-tobacco messages, road shows are held to reach to the masses by both the channels.
 
"We are youth-targetted station. We know the gravity of the problem and hence thought of strongly campaigning against tobacco consumption in any form," Ethel D'Costa, head of programming at Radio Mirchie, said.
 
The anti-tobacco NGO feels that the situation in the state is becoming grave. "Annually 20 to 25 per cent of the deaths are due to tobacco in any form," Salkar said.
 
He added,"Out of 10,000 deaths, nearly 45 per cent is because of smoking. They die of cardiac arrest, paralysis, cancer or even diabetic related disease."
 
Salkar said that the state has an act banning on smoking in public places which  needs to be implemented strictly.
 
The NGO has decided to invite major State youth icons to come on the open platform and declare that they are quitting smoking. "You will have surprises coming in, in the next few days," he added.