‘Zindagi Ko Tambaku Ki Patri Par Na Chalayein’ ... A Western Railway and Salaam Bombay Foundation initiative on World No Tobacco Day!

       

May 30, Mumbai: On 30th May 2016, World No Tobacco Day, the Western Railways in association with NGO Salaam Bombay Foundation (SBF) will ride a new track for citizens - ‘Zindagi Ko Tambaku Ki Patri Par Na Chalayein’, a campaign to rid the railways of the tobacco menace. 

Beginning on Monday 30th May, 2016, the campaign will begin with an oral health camp for coolies by The Indian Dental Association (IDA). Following this, on Tuesday morning, commuters will hear the voices of Bollywood celebrities like Shraddha Kapoor, Juhi Chawla, Sharman Joshi and Govinda on the public announcement system. The Western Railway local trains are also known for their signature internal announcements that keep commuters updated with details of their journey and broadcasts precautionary messages. These special announcements are serious messages asking people to stay away from tobacco. An initiative launched by the Western Railways, Mumbai Division with support from the Salaam Bombay Foundation, the objective is to raise awareness on the health hazards that tobacco poses and its threat to life.   

The Western Railways has gone a step further and roped in the Salaam Bombay Foundation to organise special street plays on the Churchgate and Mumbai Central (Outstation) platforms.  Once again the plays will highlight that over 10 million die from tobacco related diseases every year and that every day 5,500 Indian children try tobacco for the first time. 

Talking about the unique initiative of spreading anti-tobacco awareness, Mr. Saurabh Prasad, Additional Divisional Manager (Technical), Western Railway, said, “The railways serve the nation.  We are happy we could extend our service to incorporate messages for good health.  Tobacco kills 10 million people every year and our efforts are a small step to raise awareness on the ill effects of tobacco and how critical it is to stay away from it.  These children are doing the public a great service; we are proud to be their partners.”

  

Echoing his thoughts, Ms. Aditi Parikh, VP, Communications & Development, Salaam Bombay Foundation said, “Tobacco is a menace...India accounts for 86% of the world’s oral cancer cases, most of them being tobacco induced.  Society is aware of the ills of tobacco but when organisations like the Western Railway get involved, the reach just multiplies.  The Salaam Bombay children have made it their mission to advocate for a tobacco-free environment; the street plays will reach thousands of commuters on the busy platforms as will the oral check up in association with IDA for the coolies.  We thank the Western Railway for their foresight in initiating this event.” 

The Western Railways operates around 1300 rakes on the Western Suburban route which ferries about 35 lakh commuters every day. 

Schedule of Performances: At Churchgate Station in front of the ticket window: 2pm to 2 45pm

At Mumbai Central (outstation): 4 10pm to 5pm

Mr. Saurav Prasad, ADRM (Technical) Western Railways has kindly consented to speak to the Media on this initiative on  +91 9004499002.

About Salaam Bombay Foundation:

Salaam Bombay Foundation started in 2002 to work with children in Mumbai’s slums.  These children live in conditions of extreme poverty and deprivation.  9 out of 10 drop out of school, facing the risk of child labour and substance abuse, tobacco use in particular. 1 in every 3 children is addicted to tobacco and is at the risk of getting cancer. They lose their self-esteem and are powerless to shape their own destinies. Salaam Bombay Foundation supports these 'at risk' children in programmes that engage them through in-school leadership and    after-school sports, arts and media programmes.  These programmes build their confidence, self-esteem and recommit them to stay in school. Most children between the ages of 14 and 16, give in to ever-mounting pressures to drop out of school and contribute meagre earnings from unskilled labour to their families. The skills@school programme addresses this problem by enabling youth to stay in school and work part-time without dropping out. With expert mentoring, the programme equips children with technical knowledge and skills to apprentice with professionals, save for higher education, and prepare for sustainable careers after graduation. Salaam Bombay’s skills@school programmes improve the lives of children and benefit their families and communities.

We are currently in 219 schools in Mumbai.

The Harvard School of Public Health has studied our model and found that children in Salaam Bombay's programmes have greater ambition and over 90% commit to finishing school. They have higher self-esteem and confidence than their peers and have lower tobacco use rates not only compared to other children but also less than one-third of the national average. Now that they are staying in school, we are confident that there is hope for their future.

Salaam Bombay Foundation – A Child In School Has A Future

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