Sir,
Since ages , use of tobacco in our country has been witnessed and year after year its consumption is seen being increased uncontrollably in spite of the openly known fact that smoking is very harmful for the health of we human being. Why it is so ? Who is responsible ? Are the users, the manufacturers of tobacco products, the state administration and the Central Government not aware of the dangerous effects of tobacco use by the masses ? The reality is, that each character involved in the race of this triangle, does fully know and clearly understands the harmfulness injected to the human beings by the use of tobacco products, available in various kinds of attractively packed boxes or pouches in open market and still we find all these three in a big helplessness state saying, I can’t live without a cigarette (says the consumer), this is my business ( says the manufacturer ) and we earn a big tax revenue (says the Government) which clearly shows that each one of them is wholly and wilfully centralising his own interest and no one is at all concerned about the health damage being done to human life by these three aforesaid personalities.
Displaying sign boards in the hospitals , extra marking on the cigarette packs, prohibiting smoking in public places, issuing warning to sellers “not to sell to minors” have not brought so far, any visible / favourable results in our country , because what to talk of men folk we observe that the tasty and multi-flavoured tobacco products, such as Gutka, Kheni, Sweet Tabacco Supari, Pan Masalas, Chutki etc. have also attracted and encircled our fair sex and everyone is proudly using such items in gala parties which should be a very much concern of every individual of our society. Each one of us must shoulder this responsibility to ensure that at least none of our family member increases the strength of such silent killers. People, who see any one smoking and just digest his that act without raising any objections, are equally to be blamed because the silent killer is not only harming to himself but all those individuals around him who become automatically the passive smokers , get the reward of injuring their own health by the constant effects of smoke unwillingly inhaled to their lungs.
Only the fear of law cannot eradicate the disease of smoking from the country , it is the strong will power of an individual which is going to help a lot to make us a smoke free Nation. Everyone does understand that this is not good for health but still one consumes it regularly. The old saying that “Where there is a will there is a way” can very comfortably be adopted for removal of this suicidal disease in letter & spirit to ensure that false slogans of consolation, deeply housed in the minds of many a people , Gham Bulane Ke Lie Peeta Hun, Damag Ko Taza Karne Ko Peeta Hu, Kash Lagane se concentration Barhti Hal, Subha Bath Room Jane Se Pehle Cigarette.
Bahut Zaroori hai and many such like self created phrases , are forcibly removed from every artery of their brain once for all.
Yours etc….
J M Behl,
Sainik Colony, Jammu