Social Activities
Education is the movement from darkness to light.
Anti-Tobacco
Camp
According to WHO Country profiles, India has one of the highest rates of oral cancer in the world and rates are still increasing. This disproportionate incidence of oral cancer has been related to the high proportion of tobacco chewers, a habit unique to Indians. Most people have no idea that consuming smokeless tobacco is as dangerous as smoking and while packets of pan masala do bear health warnings, they are rendered almost invisible by the bright shiny packaging and the small size of the warnings. Consequently, unlike smoking, which must be hidden from adults, children can openly consume pan masalas. Shockingly, younger and younger children are being introduced into this habit, with the first introduction often being given at home by an elder who is unaware of the dangers he is exposing the child to.
Our most depressing failures is with children from the lower income levels. It is difficult to convince them to give up tobacco. The habit helps them to deal with their daily lives, it kills the appetite and gives a kick that makes them happy for a while. It is cheaper to buy a packet of gutka than dinner. And it gives them the strength to face challenges of child labour including late night shifts. Sometimes it is their only source of happiness.
