Tobacco is a leading preventable cause of death, killing nearly six million people worldwide each year. This global tobacco epidemic kills more people than tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and malaria combined.

India is also among the top 10 countries together accounting for almost two thirds of the world’s smokers (63.6%) in 2015.  Government estimates show in India over 5,500 youth start tobacco use every day, whereas around 35% of adults consume tobacco in some form or other.

Caritas India along with DESH and Sankalp observed Anti-Tobacco day on 31^st May 2017 to mark the world anti-tobacco day at Takshshila Nagar, Kurla east. The programme aimed to make community aware about the ill effects of tobacco and sensitize them on the tobacco issues.

Group of young people staged an interesting street play at the slums of Kurla, Mumbai to showcase children attraction towards tobacco and how it affects their health and studies. The dimension of peer pressure and family was demonstrated through the play which was quite effective to communicate about the ill effects of tobacco.

Mr. Tukaram Konale, Master Trainer from DESH team interacted with children and parents to explain the harmful effects of Tobacco and Gutkha. He said, every year 2 lakhs people dies because of Tobacco and Gutkha chewing. Chances of children attraction towards tobacco increases in those families where family members smoke or chews the Tobacco. He also informed that Caritas India and DESH organization is working in school with children about the substance abuse.

A drawing competition was also organized with help of Sankalp organization. Around 50 children expressed their emotion through paintings to depict the theme of “chewing and smoking tobacco”.

Mr. Melvin Pangya, State Officer- Maharashtra, Mr. Ramesh Gajare, Trainer HAPPY project, Mr. Tukaram Konale, Master Trainer, DESH and Mr. Vinod Hiwale from Sankalp organization were among the few who were present during the programme.