Consumers’ Legal Protection Forum Empowers Women for a Smoke-Free Future
Guwahati, March 07, 2024: In a bid to empower women towards a smoke-free and healthy future, Consumers’ Legal Protection Forum, Assam, in collaboration with Consumer VOICE, New Delhi, organized a sensitization workshop and slogan competition at the Jyotisikha Mahila Samannay Parishad Auditorium, Panjabari, Guwahati on International Women’s Day.
Professionals from diverse fields, including doctors, lawyers, and social activists, gathered to discuss and raise awareness on the theme, ‘Strengthen Tobacco Control Law to Save Lives.’ Supported by Jyotisikha Mahila Samannay Parishad, Pratishruti Cancer & Palliative Trust, and Inner Wheel Club of Guwahati East, the event garnered significant participation.
Women from various walks of life came together to advocate for stronger tobacco control laws to combat the growing tobacco menace. More than a hundred women engaged in a slogan competition, emphasizing the need to eliminate designated smoking areas to achieve a 100 percent smoke-free India. The participants also urged for a ban on the point of sale, aiming to protect children and youth from the harmful effects of tobacco.
The workshop concluded with the distribution of prizes among the top three slogan winners, whose entries were subsequently forwarded to the Prime Minister’s Office in India.
Also read: Assam Rifles and Police Department Collaborate to Seize 1376 Gram of Heroin No. 4 in Mizoram
Statistics reveal that nearly 50% of all cancers in India are linked to tobacco use, emphasizing the urgency to strengthen tobacco control laws. The Global Adult Tobacco Survey highlighted that 33% of women and 48.2% of all adults in Assam either smoke tobacco or use smokeless tobacco. Alarming data indicates that approximately 40% of women in the country are exposed to secondhand smoke at home.
Advocate Ajoy Hazarika, Secretary of Consumers’ Legal Protection Forum, Assam, emphasized the critical need to initiate the amendment process for tobacco control laws to address the pressing issue.
Dr. Dippy Aggarwal, Senior Consultant in OBS & Gynecology, underscored the dangers associated with tobacco use, stating that it worsens lung function, reduces immunity, and poses severe risks for women, including reproductive health issues and various cancers.
Eminent writer and social worker Swapnali Mahanta, present at the sensitization workshop, stressed the importance of stringent policies for tobacco control. She highlighted that women, though fewer in number as smokers, face increased health risks, including cervical cancer, osteoporosis, and reproductive system disorders.
As the Consumers’ Legal Protection Forum actively addresses the call for action on International Women’s Day, the collective effort to strengthen tobacco control laws remains crucial for a healthier and smoke-free future.
