Wednesday, May 23, 2007
NEWS - Admn plans to implement tobacco-free laws
Chandigarh, May 22: The Chandigarh administration is working with a comprehensive approach to make it a smoke-free city and the administration is committed to provide healthier environment to residents and tourists.
This was stated by UT tourism director Vivek Atray during a workshop organised by Burning Brain Society in association with Chandigarh administration for the teachers, hoteliers and other stakeholders on implementation of smoke-free laws and the rationale behind it.
Atray said the city is moving in the right path to become India’s first smoke-free city and this initiative could set a positive example for the rest of the country.
While making a presentation on second-hand smoke, Hemant Goswami, chairperson, Burning Brain Society, explained that though all people exposed to second-hand tobacco smoke stand at increased risk of heart diseases, cancers and other ailments, workers exposed to secondhand smoke on the job were 34% more likely to get lung cancer compared to their other colleagues who were not exposed.
Manmohan Singh, president, Hotel and Restaurant Association, said that hotels and restaurants would like to please every customer but they will never do so by spreading disease or endangering the lives of people by exposing them to second-hand smoke Technical education director S K Setia said that only 15 per cent of the smoke from a cigarette is inhaled by the smoker, the rest goes into the surrounding air which other people breathe in. He said the teachers have an important role in the smoke-free initiative and in educating the youngsters about the harmful and fatal consequences of tobacco.
Representing Chandigarh Police, Devinder Singh Thakur, DSP, made a presentation on the legal aspect of tobacco laws.
The workshop also saw some catchy tobacco-control awareness songs created and sung by Attar Singh.
online available at - http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=237636
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