Tobacco, Smoking and Gutkha Chewing: Challenging Threat to Health and Society on April 21, 2017

Clean and Green Environmental Society (CGES) organized an event 'Tobacco, Smoking and Gutkha Chewing: Challenging Threat to Health and Society' on April 21, 2017 at Hotel LEVANA, Lucknow. Around 60 people from different walks of life participated in the event. Prof.S.K. Barik, Director, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, was the Chief Guest, Dr.Qamar Rahman, Former Dy. Director, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, (IITR) Lucknow  was the Guest of Honour while Prof.Surya Kant, Head, Department of Pulmonary Diseases and Medicine, King George Medical University, Lucknow was the Guest Speaker.

Er. Sumer Agarwal, President CGES in his welcome address, said that the event organized by CGES is an effort to create awareness about the harmful effects of smoking and Gutkha chewing on the human health. Dr.S.C.Sharma, Secretary General, CGES gave the brief details of the CGES and highlighted the activities during the last eighteen months and the impact on the society.

Prof.R.P.Singh, Department of Environmental Science, Baba Sahab Ambedkar University, Lucknow (BBAU) introduced Prof.S.K. Barik; Prof. Yogesh Sharma, Botany Department, Lucknow University introduced Dr.Qamar Rahman and Dr.S.C.Sharma introduced Prof.Surya Kant who is an eminent pulmonologist and wonderful orator.

The Guest Speaker, Prof.Surya Kant gave a very educative and interesting presentation on Smoking and Gutkha Chewing with the help of beautiful slides. Prof. Surya Kant explained the economics and impact of the tobacco culture on the human health. He also gave the picture of Gutkha chewing which causes the oral cancer leading to death of the human beings. The death from the alcohol consumption is less than tobacco smoking and gutkha chewing. Prof.Surya Kant gave a generous offer that the CGES members will get free medical treatment to the patients coming to his clinic.

After the presentation of Prof.Surya Kant, there was an interesting interactive session with the audience and media persons.

Dr.Qamar Rahman explained the harmful effects of the smoking and gutkha chewing especially in the working class.

Prof.S.K.Barik gave the picture of Northeast region of the country and informed the gathering that raw betel nut, tobacco and lime make a cumulative effect on the health of the consumers which causes oral cancer. Prof. Barik welcomed the CGES for joining the hands with NBRI for organizing the programs on environment and health. CGES will get all the logistic facilities for organizing the programs for creating the awareness among the masses on 'Swacch and Swasth Bharat'.

Er.Sumer Agarwal, President, CGES gave his Presidential remarks on the program and emphasized that the CGES should also organize programs in the school and colleges. Government alone will not be able to eradicate the ills of the society. Er. Agarwal urged that the NGOs like CGES must come forward for bringing the awareness of clean and green environment for healthy life in the rural and urban areas.

Dr. Naveen Arora, Head, Department of Microbiology, BBA University, Lucknow gave the Vote of Thanks to the Chief Guest, Guest of Honour and Guest Speaker. Dr. Arora thanked the distinguished gathering on the occasion for actively participating in the program. Dr. Arora profusely thanked Er. Sumer Agarwal, Chairman, LEVANA Group for providing the conference hall and the hospitality to the participants on the occasion.