Kerala School Children to Learn Anti-Tobacco Lessons

A Kerala education department official has said that revised textbooks of class 1 to 12 in schools will have lessons about the evils of tobacco.

A. Shajahan, secretary of general education also said that directions have been issued to all schools to ban sale of tobacco products in and around school premises.

He was speaking on the implementation of smoke-free rules in educational institutions, an event organised by Tobacco Free Kerala.

A. Hemachandran, additional director general of police said that even though there are laws on tobacco use and the police should enforce them, it is important to keep away from such vices without any external compulsion.

"Most often children are attracted to smoking because they think it is a sign of smartness. Smartness is not about giving in to temptations and acquiring unhealthy habits, but rather acquiring the ability to say no," the police official said.

Leading film producer G. Suresh Kumar said that he could not completely refute the allegation that films propel youngsters to smoking.

"On screen smoking often tempts many students. My wife (Maneka, a yesteryear leading heroine) and I have often raised our voices against the excessive display of smoking and drinking scenes in some new generation films," said Kumar.

A.S. Pradeep Kumar, additional director of health services, Kerala said studies have shown that though 60 per cent of smokers want to quit, only two to three percent are able to do so.

He also described in detail the country's tobacco control law, COTPA, 2003 that prohibits smoking in public places including educational institutions, hospital buildings and hotels.

P.G. Balagopal, associate professor, Regional Cancer Centre said that in Kerala over 55 percent of cancers among males and over 20 percent of cancers in females are caused due to tobacco use.

Source: IANS