Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Jan 5: To create understanding and awareness about ill effects of tobacco use, Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI) initiated a week long anti tobacco drive in collaboration with various tourism players here.
The anti-tobacco drive initiated from December 31, 2015 will continue till the end of this week with various tourism players and tourist police playing a vital part in the entire week long drive.
A spokesman of VHAI said that various tourism players including Kashmir House Boat Owners Association (KHBOA)-consisting of house boat owners from Dal, Nigeen, Chinar Bagh, Chunth Khul and Jehlum with a reach of around 960 houseboats were roped in to be part of this campaign.
"Besides, Kashmir Shikara and Taxi owners Association based around Dal Lake with a reach of around 1900 Shikaras and Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHARA) with a reach of 1200 hotels across Kashmir valley are playing a key role to make this drive a success," the spokesman said.
The spokesman said the associations provided 'No Smoking' stickers to their members to be displayed at prominent places in their premises. Further booklets on COTPA, 2003 developed by VHAI were also shared with Unit Managers. Hoardings displaying 'No Smoking' signages were also distributed which will be put up at all the ghats of Dal Lake.
"During the week long drive the Associations would impart unit to unit awareness to their members against the use of tobacco in their premises and to stop promoting use of tobacco products through signages and hoardings," the spokesman said.
The spokesman said that a headed by Station House Officer (SHO), Tourist Reception Centre (TRC), Suhail Ahmad also visited various hotels, restaurants and house boats and issued challans on the spot to more than a dozen offenders.
General Secretary KHBOA, Abdul Rashid Kaloo, while appreciating the efforts of VHAI termed it as a good initiative.
"Bringing different players from tourism sector together is a great step, together it's easy for us to fight against this menace of smoking which is killing our future generations and for that VHAI deserves all the credit," said Kaloo.
Secretary General KHARA, Aadil Khan also hailed the efforts of other associations, police and VHAI and assured that campaign will not remain confined to Srinagar city, but will be spread to entire valley. He said that such campaigns should be made more frequent to make them effective.
Chairman Shikara and Taxi Owners Association, Haji Wali Mohammad, also hailed the move and suggested to spread awareness among tourists through printed material. |
