As the city celebrated Children’s Day with much fervour, these children who belonged to various schools in the city found their own way to ask for a better world by demanding a surrounding which is free of tobacco wrappers, bidis, cigarettes etc. They also chose an impactful medium to put across their thoughts. Each child came up with creative and highly innovative messages through posters and drawings that spoke about a tobacco-free world. The best of these art forms were chosen and their creators were felicitated jointly by Dr Mustaq Sheikh, Education Inspector, North Zone, Bollywood singer Nikhita Gandhi and NGO Salaam Bombay Foundation at a special function on November 23.
The drawing competition, held as part of Children’s Week celebrations, was a brainchild of Dr Sheikh who has taken it upon himself to address the menace of tobacco in government schools. Dr Sheikh had recently joined hands with Salaam Bombay Foundation to sensitise school teachers and staff under his jurisdiction to raise awareness in their respective schools. Their collective results bore fruit and today 517 schools in the North zone of Mumbai are actively running the Tobacco-free school campaign. Gandhi has been associated with Salaam Bombay Foundation who have been actively engaged in tobacco control in schools across Mumbai since the past 14 years. Also present on the occasion were 500 student representatives of the North zone schools.
The drawing competition that revolved around the theme ‘Tambakhu Mukht Shala, Swachh Shala’ looked at spreading the message of the need for a healthier environment for children. The campaign was a great success because the children themselves were motivated and felt the need for a tobacco-free environment.
Gandhi, a dentist by profession, has been supporting Salaam Bombay Foundation’s mission to help children stay in school and empowering them with life-skills. She said, “On recent encounters with Salaam Bombay Foundation I have found their work and mission to be quite amazing and I am looking forward to a meaningful association. I am also a dentist by education and would love to use my skill and perspective in helping these children. This joint project by Dr Sheikh and Salaam Bombay Foundation is indeed commendable. The children have expressed the message so beautifully and yet strongly in their drawings!”
Echoing her thoughts Tshering Bhutia, General Manager (Tobacco Control) Salaam Bombay Foundation said, “We are extremely happy to see the enthusiasm of the Education Department in offering the children a healthier and tobacco-free environment. We are also very impressed with the way the children have expressed their thoughts through posters and drawings. We would like to thank Nikhita Gandhi too for supporting our cause and showing her eagerness to interact with our children.”
Dr Sheikh said, “I feel that every child has the right to enjoy childhood and have a proper education. But when tobacco abuse comes in their way, these rights are taken away from the children. A good way to keep them away from tobacco abuse is by sensitising them. Our aim is to give them a tobacco free environment and develop a culture of good health among them. I thank Salaam Bombay Foundation for supporting me in my endeavour.”
For More Information Contact :
Nabanita Guha / E-Mail : nabanita@carmine.co.in
