Kolkata: Anti-Tobacco Day was observed on Tuesday across the country.
In Kolkata, members of the medical bank organization carried out a procession against the consumption of tobacco products
"Our programme for the day is to make school children take part in the procession wearing skull masks. After wearing them, these children would go and make all the passers by aware about the number of deaths caused by cigarette smoking. Cigarette causes lung cancer and kidney damage. That is why it should be stopped," said D. Ashish, secretary of Medical Bank.
Meanwhile, the members of the Siliguri Sumita Cancer Relief Welfare and Educational Society also took out a huge procession.
The National Cadet Corps (NCC) went about collecting tobacco products from the people and in return distributed chocolates among them assisted them.
The highlight of this procession was that the volunteers burned two large models of cigarettes as a sign of protest against tobacco consumption.
Of over six million deaths caused due to tobacco consumption world over, one million occur in India alone.
According to the latest report of the Indian Council of Medical Research, smoking and chewing tobacco is the cause of 50 percent of all cancer in men and 25 percent in women.
Almost 40 percent of tuberculosis deaths in India are caused due to consumption of tobacco.
ANI
