Smokers are victims not criminals

While addressing a series of Anti-Tobacco awareness program toheads of schools and other institutions in Adyar Cancer Institute, Chennai, one question which was repeatedly thrown at me was, “Why don’t we ban Tobacco?” I was wondering why people ask this question to me and not to the elected Member of Parliament. They can’t as most of the so called MPs are either busy looting the country or supporting the corporate which in turn gang rape the nation. Also almost all of us elect our MPs based on Caste, Religion or what freebies he/she may offer to his constituency. What do you expect such an MP to deliver?

Breathing is inherent to our existence and we all have right to live; this is challenged by smokers as they pollute the air and forcefully make us secondary smokers. Second hand smokers are as vulnerable to lung related cancer as smokers are. Also smokers are a victim of this menace. Smoking is mostly by chance rather than a voluntary option. They are unable to come out of this evil. They need our help. Each one of us can contribute towards creating awareness and pressurizing our politicians to make Anti-tobacco friendly laws. Companies like BAT, Japan Tobacco, Philip Morris will continue to sell tobacco products as long as demand is there. After all they are merchants; they will sell anything which fetches money.

Our movie makers should be influenced as our population sure does have significant influence of cinema. Our policy makers can be brought to our line of thinking when we vote for those who support anti-tobacco policies. Civil society can get together and bring a revolution in this. It takes a matter of minutes to lose our right but it takes several lives to retain those rights.