Chennai: Parents who smoke, peer influence and the easy accessibility of cigarettes, are a few reasons for the rise in the number of youngsters who smoke, both in the state as well as in the rest of the country.
Though the phrase ‘smoking is injurious to health’ is heard only too often, the fact that it is easily accessible to children, has become a cause of concern among doctors and activists. Despite Section 6b of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) opposing the sale of tobacco within 100 meters of educational institutions, its enforcement is barely negligible. “Cigarette companies state, in their advertisements today, that they are selling pleasure and say that they must catch people young,” said Sugata Roy, communication specialist, Unicef (Tamil Nadu and Kerala).
As a measure to ascertain the level of tobacco industry interference around schools in Chennai, the Children Against Tobacco (CAT) units conducted a monitoring survey around selected schools to identify tobacco industry promotional activities that target children around 100 yards of the school. It was found that tobacco was sold within 100 yards of all schools covered in the survey, this being against Section 6b of COTPA. 88.9 per cent of the shops did not have a ‘No Smoking - Smoking is an Offence’ signboard. As against the law, 98.8 per cent of the shops did not have the ‘Sale of tobacco products to a person under the age of 18 years is a punishable offence’ signboard.
“Headmistresses and headmasters are still not aware that they have the authority to take action against traders who sell tobacco within 100 yards of their schools. It is essential that they are sensitized about this,” said oncologist Dr. K. Ranjan. “Early education is a must to ensure that children are taught of the ill effects of tobacco consumption. They should also be taught of how they can keep themselves away from tobacco,” said Roy.
It has been seen that youngsters look at smoking as a fashion statement. Looking up to their role models including their parents and film stars, children tend to try their hand at smoking so as to look cool.
