World No Tobacco Day observed across state
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 31 2022: District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Imphal West organised a legal awareness programme on World No Tobacco Day cum Activation of Legal Literacy Club at Ram Lal Paul Higher Secondary School here on Tuesday.

Speaking on the occasion, School principal P Memthoi explained about the harmful effects of tobacco and appealed to the students not to use tobacco products.

District and Sessions Judge, Imphal West cum DLSA, Imphal West chairman A Guneshwar Sharma spoke on the role of legal literacy club and the responsibility of students with regard to legal aid, adding that students should, from a young age, be aware of the fundamental rights and duties as enshrined in the Constitution.

CoNE president RK Nalinikanta also elaborated on the effect of tobacco and its various products and the role that could be played by students in ensuring a tobacco and drug free society.

In all, 80 people including students and teachers attended the programme, wherein a quiz competition was also conducted.

The World No Tobacco Day observance programme was also organised by DLSA Tamenglong under the aegis of Manipur State Legal Services Authority (MASLSA) at Sharon English High School, Longmai Bazar, Noney on Tuesday.

As part of the programme, a Slogan Writing Competition for students was conducted in which Class X students, namely, Damchuibou Abonmai, Kachugailiu Rongmei and M Monkanhoi Gangmei respectively bagged the top three prizes.

The programme was also attended by Sharon English High School principal Namrisin Gonmei.

Meanwhile, Kakching High School-1984 Matric Batch in collaboration with Lions Club of Kakching Greater and Grace Cottage Academy observed World No Tobacco Day 2022 at Grace Cottage Academy, Kakching Makha Leikai on Tuesday.

Organised on the theme of "Tobacco; Threat to Our Environment", the obser vance was attended by Kakching High School-1984 Matric Batch president and Chandel Forest Division Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACE) Naorem Munal Meitei; Lions Club of Kakching Greater president Dr Mayanglambam Rajkumar; Image TV Kakching chief editor Uttamkumar Naorem; and 1984 Matric Batch secretary Shougaijam Manihar as presidium members.

Speaking on the occasion, Munal highlighted the harmful effects of using tobacco and its products on the human body as well as the environment, adding that around 60 crore trees are felled every'year to make space for planting tobacco.

Around 35 lakh hectares of forest area are lost, leading to discharge of 84 megatons of Carbon dioxide (CO2) and wastage of 22 billion litres of water.

In addition, one single cigarette reduces the human lifespan by around 11 minutes and the second-hand smoke reduces the lifespan of non-smokers by 6-10 years, with around 80 lakh people dying every year.

India ranks second in the world with around 11.2 per cent of tobacco users, while holding the third place for tobacco production.

Around 13.4 lakh Indians die every year from smoking, while 20 lakh Indians died from using tobacco products, he added Furthermore, 27 percent of cancer cases in the country are caused due to tobacco and its related products.

The harmful effects of tobacco on women aside from reducing lifespan includes low fertility late, miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies, premature deliveries and cleft lips.

Most addictions start from using tobacco and its products, Munal said, and appealed to all people to refrain from using tobacco, but instead work together for Green Manipur Day and a Model Forest Village.

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