On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day, a programme on the theme "TOBACCO KILLS" was organized jointly on 31-5-10 by the Institution of Engineers, Mysore Chapter, Mysore Grahakara Parishath and Anti-Tobacco Forum.
(Release of the booklet "Tobacco Kills" on 31-5-10 on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day. From left, A.S. Satish, Organizing Secretary, Institution of Engineers, Mysore Local Centre, H.R. Bapu Satyanarayana, Retired Chief Engineer, Prof. S.K. Ananda Thirtha, Working President, Mysore Grahakara Parishat, Vasanthkumar Mysoremath, Convener, Anti-tobacco Forum, Prof. V. Jagannath, HUDCO Professor at ATI, Mysore.)
Vasanthkumar Mysoremath spoke on the ill effects of consumption of tobacco products. It was followed by a lively debate among the members of the audience. The policy of the government which forced farmers growing staple foods like paddy, jowar, etc. to suicide for want of timely supply of quality seeds, fertilizers etc., but ensured supply of all types of inputs to tobacco farmers was criticized. The participants felt that since India has signed the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Protocol for controlling cultivation, manufacture and marketing of tobacco and its products, it should be serious in its efforts to control the tobacco epidemic because health and money of its citizens are literally going up in smoke (More than one million deaths in India every year are directly attributable to tobacco).
A booklet 'TOBACCO KILLS" containing a collection of tobacco-related articles from newspapers and magazines was released on the occasion. It can be obtained by calling 9845950440 (or e-mail him).
Vasanthkumar Mysoremath, MGP & Anti-tobacco Forum