GRIM WARNING: Members of Hriday-Shan participating in the health walk to spread awareness on the occasion of `No Tobacco Day' at R.K. Beach in Visakhapatnam on Thursday. — Photo:K.R. Deepak

VISAKHAPATNAM: Members of Hriday-Shan, a voluntary organisation supported by WHO and Ministry of Family and Health, organised a health run at R.K.Beach to spread awareness on the health hazards of tobacco chewing and smoking on the occasion of `No Tobacco Day' on Thursday. Holding placards with catchy slogans, students from 20 schools in the city participated in the programme. "Our main aim is to create public awareness on the health problems associated with tobacco and to promote a healthy lifestyle among the youth," said coordinator of the organisation C.S. Srinivas.

Memorandum

Earlier, members of the organisation presented a memorandum to the Police Commissioner for the strict implementation of laws against tobacco. "We have requested the Police Commissioner to ban the sale of cigarettes at public places like beaches and cinema halls and within 500 metres of all educational institutions," he said. The members of the organisation have also been visiting the tribal areas to create awareness among the villagers about the ill effects of tobacco.

A questionnaire consisting of questions associated with smoking was distributed to the participants and visitors at the beach road to get a feed back from the general public.

Coordinator of the organisation M. Bhaskara Rao also participated in the programme.

Exhibition

The Brahmakumaris on Thursday organised an exhibition to mark the Anti-Tobacco Day at the RTC Complex at Dwarakanagar. RTC Regional Manager N. Venkateswara Rao inaugurated the exhibition. Brahmakumari Sivalila spoke on the significance of the exhibition.

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