'Don't pick up that fag'

Updated on: 30 November,2009 10:47 AM IST |
Nolan Pinto |

Students organise walk as part of larger drive to urge people not to take that first puff

Students organise walk as part of larger drive to urge people not to take that first puff

KEEP OFF IT: Students began their walk at Government Library and ended it at Band Stand Circle, Cubbon Park.

Calling their campaign SWAT, or Students Working Against Tobacco, they began from the Government Library in Cubbon Park, wound their way through Vittal Mallya Road, and culminated their walk at the Band Stand Circle in the park.

The students' chief aim is to dissuade those in the age group of 13-21 years from picking up their first cigarette.

"We are not aiming at people who are already smoking, but at those who have not yet begun," said Sprihi Kanodia, a student representative of the college. "We can very well see the ill effects of smoking, such as cancer, so why not educate the youth first?"

She added that as it was a silent walk, the participants had already sworn that they were not smokers and that they "are not going to pick up the first cigarette." Their next step is to conduct a signature campaign, besides holding awareness campaigns in schools.

One of the participants, who also cut the ribbon to begin the walk, was Somashekar, retired senior manager, NGEF. Somashekhar said, "This is nice, what they are doing. And it will certainly educate people about the harmful effects of smoking."
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He said even animals like pigs and donkeys will eat garbage but not touch tobacco leaves. "When even animals know it's bad, are we humans not intelligent enough to understand it?" he said.

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