Ban on tobacco

Sir,
Despite ban on sale of tobacco and tobacco products from a radius of 100 meters from the educational institutions, one can easily buy cigarettes and other tobacco products from the shops located in the vicinity of educational institutions.Smoking is an evil and it is in the young age that the students take to this evil by enjoying the ‘thrill’ and in due course of time become so addicted to it that they can miss their meals but not the cigarettes.It shortens the life of the smokers who develop various diseases such as mouth cancer, respiratory problems etc. Tobacco is one of the major causes of preventable death and lakhs of people die annually from tobacco and tobacco products. But it is surprising that tobacco and tobacco products are easily available in teashops and grocery shops located in the vicinity of schools.Students spend a lot of their pocket money on beedies, cigarettes and other tobacco products and it is too late when they realize that they have got nothing but smoke for the money spent on it.
The ban imposed on sale of tobacco and tobacco products within a radius of hundred meters from the educational institution,if implemented strictly,can help a lot in checking this evil and preventing our youth from ruining their life and families.The private schools should also be asked to ban smoking or chewing tobacco in their school premises.As the health and the future of our youth is involved strict action needs to to be taken against those shopkeepers and vendors selling tobacco products to minors.Parents too ought to keep an eye on their children and ensure that they donot fall in the habit of smoking or chewing tobacco. Awareness camps also ought to be organised through lectures and films to enlighten the students about the ill effects of smoking. The Principals and the teachers of both Government and private schools too ought to keep an eye on the neighbouring shops on sale of tobacco and report any such case to the police.The ban needs to be enforced strictly to save our youth from being ruined.
Yours etc…..
Ashok Sharma,
Udhampur

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