from Ares
for Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (GA)

Panaji, Aug 5: Leading sportsmen of the State have joined hands to appeal the health minister Vishwajeet Rane to have stricter laws against smoking in the tourist State.

While the apprehensions are raised that the implementation of anti-tobacco laws will keep away tourists, the anti-tobacco crusaders feel that it is merely a myth and other international tourist destinations have proved that even after shunning tobacco, the tourism survives.

The State attracts 25 lac tourists, mostly domestic, every year, and has its own anti-tobacco law in place, which is scarcely being implemented by the authorities.

"We can't have hundred per cent enforcement of the law. But very well we can touch 80 per cent mark," Rane stated.

The anti-tobacco law discussion was cropped up during the regional-level advocacy workshop on tobacco control laws held in the State by world Health Organization (WHO) in association with local NGO – National Organization for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE).

Ace football teams and an international cricketer appealed the State government to enforce the anti-tobacco regulations as a major step towards tobacco-free state.

Two major football teams – Salgaonkar Sports Club and Dempo Sports Club – have appealed Rane to refresh governmental effort to accord topmost priority to banning tobacco use in public and aim at making Goa tobacco free.'

Adding up to these clubs, Swapnil Asnodkar, Rajasthan Royal's opening batsman and a Goan cricketer, too, submitted a memorandum to the health minister seeking his whole-hearted efforts in curbing tobacco use in the state.

These memorandums were given during the regional-level advocacy workshop on tobacco control laws and measures for sensitizing various stakeholders in western region.

The two-day workshop which began on Tuesday August 5 morning was inaugurated by the state health minister in presence of world health organization and Union government officials. NOTE had organized the workshop in South Goa.

"It is imperative that the State government takes steps necessary to develop a proper enforcement action plan for tobacco control laws in the State and adopts a policy of encouraging sports activities in order to protect the youths and younger generation from the ravages of tobacco," Asnodkar said in the memorandum.

Asnodkar, who hogged the limelight during Indian Premier League (IPL) with his performance for Rajasthan Royals, said that he hates smoking. "It is good to be associated with such a cause." 

During the inaugural function, the NOTE General Secretary Dr Shekhar Salkar declared that Swapnil would be the brand ambassador for no tobacco cause in the state.

Dr Salkar, who is an oncologist himself, said that Swapnil's popularity is on rise post IPL and he has been an icon for many. "Youth listen to their icon and involvement of Swapnil will be a big boost to our movement here," he said.

Photo caption: Rajasthan Royal's opening batsman Swapnil Asnodkar handing over the memorandum to the state health minister Vishwajeet Rane.