BMC, NGO join hands for anti-tobacco campaign

As part its endeavour to make the city smoke-free, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) tied up with Voice Against Tobacco, an NGO, to launch a signature campaign on Friday. Inaugurated by BMC chief Subodh Kumar, Mayor Shraddha Jadav and Commissioner of Health Manisha Mhaiskar, the campaign aims at spreading awareness about the ill effects of tobacco.

“This initiative is part of our multi-pronged approach towards the anti-tobacco movement. It started with the hookah bars, then Ganesh mandals and bus stands and now this campaign,” said Mhaiskar.

The signature campaign aims at getting as many people as possible to sign a pledge saying they will stay away from cigarettes and other tobacco products. The campaign was launched in all the 24 wards of the city.

While the BMC seems to be taking steps to curb tobacco usage, there are some who feel these efforts are only on paper.