Secretary of the Saktipada Das Memorial Foundation, Samiran Das, shared the findings of a pilot study that reveal the growing trend of tobacco consumption among school and college students. He was speaking at a press meet for the “Campaign for Tobacco-free Kids”, launched by the West Bengal Voluntary Health Association (WBVHA) in collaboration with the Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI) in the city today.

The study was conducted in five schools of South Dum Dum and surveyed 1,409 students. Seven per cent or almost a 100 students said they are consuming tobacco at present. Another four per cent said they have used tobacco but not in the last three months.

According to experts, an alarming fact is also that the youth are not only smoking cigarettes but also chewing tobacco — pan masala and khaini. These forms have a higher nicotine content and are much more damaging than cigarettes, said experts.

“We need proper education in our schools and colleges to advocate tobacco cessation, similar to the way the need for sex education in schools is being talked about,” said Das.

The State Health and Family Welfare Department has also been roped in WBVHA to initiate awareness and advocacy programmes against the use of tobacco in West Bengal as per the guidelines of the Centre. Now WBVHA, along with other NGOs in the state, is going to immediately start the drive in two districts of Bengal -- Murshidabad and Cooch Behar.

“The programme will also look at providing adequate training to the people of the districts, especially women, so that they can leave the profession of beedi-making and earn an alternative livelihood,” said Tarun Maity, Project Director, In-charge of Tobacco Control, WBVHA. “While cities like Mumbai and Delhi have already done a lot to curb the use of tobacco, including implementing a ban on smoking in many places, Bengal lags far behind,” Maity claimed.