‘Ban candies, eatables at kiosks selling tobacco products’

LUCKNOW: To make sure that shops selling tobacco products do not sell food products and vice-versa, a campaign was launched at a convention for ‘tobacco-free Lucknow’ organised by Vinobha Sewa Ashram here on Thursday.

“Children come to buy chips and they see tobacco products also at the kiosks. This is indirect selling which should be banned immediately,” said Rajesh Bhaiyaji, founder of Vinobha Sewa Ashram.

As per the order of the Lucknow Nagar Nigam, shops selling tobacco products will not keep toffee, candy or other products consumed by children, as such selling provokes them to use tobacco even if they come to buy candies, said Bhaiyaji.

Of 20 crore people in Uttar Pradesh, around 5.30 crore use tobacco in some or other form, he said. As per the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) there has been reduction in number of tobacco users in the country. However, in UP, 1.6% rise has been recorded.

Later, the members of Vinobha Sewa Ashram held a meeting with the district administration on how to make Lucknow tobacco-free. They discussed the strategies and steps that could be taken to reduce the tobacco consumption in the state capital.

“Passive smoking is another issue. It can harm anyone and also lead to congenital deformity in kids,” said Vikram, media coordinator of Vinobha Sewa Ashram.