By IANS,
Mumbai : An Indian anti-smoking group at a conference here is lobbying to garner support for more No-Tobacco Days in the country.
Every year, May 31 is observed as an international No-Tobacco Day but Aligarh-based Students’ Movement Against Tobacco and Smoking (SMATS) says Indian students miss activities on the day as most schools in the country are closed for summer vaccations.
SMATS is consulting hundreds of delegates and organisations at the 14th World Conference on Tobacco or Health here to garner support for declaration of suitable national no-tobacco days in India and other countries.
“Till now the response is positive and we hope to mobilise support for our demand,” said SMATS’ Mohammed Tauhed Ahmed.
Schools reopen in June or July after summer vacations, Ahmed said.
“We believe that there is an urgent need to identify such regions and countries in which youth and young adults are missing this opportunity,” Ahmed told IANS here.
“Making provision for additional No-Tobacco Days can be one of the most important interventions,” he added.