Salaam Bombay Foundation started a month long national and state level campaign for the World No Tobacco Day this year. Talking to youth and taking forward this year’s World No Tobacco Day theme of Tobacco Health Warnings we kick-started the campaign with MTV. Youth keenly debated about the tobacco issue, wondering why they smoke if they cannot impress girls and acknowledging the fact that Tobacco only ruined their health and that for Gen Next smoking is absolutely uncool. On 31st May- The World No Tobacco Day the channel showcased the issue 24 hrs and put up opinions of youth through an SMS campaign and Vee-jay’s raised awareness about Tobacco through various programmes and proudly supported the Proud to be Smoke Free Mumbai campaign. (check out the videos of the MTV Wassup show )
This year support from the Indian telly stars was very forthcoming, especially through a popular, primetime sitcom that portrayed kids as social messengers trying to encourage social change. Taraak Mehta ka Ooltah Chasmah took up the cause of Tobacco abuse and through its popular characters elaborated on the ills of tobacco and urged people to join this war against tobacco. They enlightened the viewers about the existing anti smoking laws in the country and set about motivating the audience specially the youth to stay away from tobacco. ( Click here to watch the special episode)
Our children actively participated in a show on Radio Mirchi and spoke strongly about the need of tobacco law implementation at the ground level. ( click here for radio program) Short street plays, information dissemination and learning through fun activities was conducted at 6 popular malls across Mumbai over the weekend. In addition a postcard campaign was also carried out. These postcards in English and Hindi had messages for friends and spouses to quit tobacco and live a healthy life. People wrote and mailed messages to loved ones who used tobacco, encouraging them to quit. Jumbo King and Cookie-man, popular food outlets, supported this campaign through their various counters across the railway stations and malls in the city.
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