Call to make Mysuru Dasara ‘Tobacco-free’

The Anti-Tobacco Forum, Mysuru, has urged the authorities to take necessary steps to ensure that the Mysuru Dasara-2026 is made ‘Tobacco-free’.

With the government announcing that Dasara 2026 would be a grand affair and lakhs of tourists will be visiting Mysuru for the festival, convenor of Anti-Tobacco Forum, Mysuru, Vasanthkumar Mysoremath, said it was necessary to make this year’s Dasara ‘Tobacco-free’.

It will be appropriate if this year’s Dasara be made “Tobacco-free Mysuru Dasara“ for keeping city’s environs healthy and clean and to protect non-smokers from the noxious fumes of cigarette/bidi smoke and also to warn gutkha/paan paraag users that they should not spit and dirty the city,” said Mr. Mysoremath, who is also the resource person for National/District Tobacco Control Programme.

He also emphasised the need to make visitors to the City aware that smoking aggravates various non-communicable diseases like cancer, tuberculosis, blood pressure, heart ailments etc.

“According to the extant anti-tobacco campaigns COTPA rules make it incumbent on the part of citizens to desist smoking in public places like markets, tourist spots, temples, etc., and that violators will be fined upto ₹200 and also attract judicial/law and order punishment,” he said.

Mr Mysoremath suggested that large billboards containing Anti-Tobacco messages painted in reflective paint, like “Tobacco kills (with skull and bones picture)”, “Please Cooperate - Make Mysuru Dasara Tobacco Free“ “Smoking in public places attracts fines/imprisonment under COTPA”, etc., may be erected at vantage points on all State/District highways leading to Mysuru and also at various tourist spots - Chamundi Hills, zoo, exhibition grounds, palaces, etc.

Yuva Dasara, he pointed out, is attracting huge crowds of youngsters and noted entertainment celebrities and film personalities are invited to regale the youth. “They will be ideal people to convey on stage and off stage Tobacco Awareness messages. They may be requested to announce messages like “Tobacco Kills”,  “Smoking in public places invites fines/imprisonment under COTPA,” he said.

In order to safeguard non-smokers from passive smoking, necessary warning billboards must be in place at all such tourist venues.  “Empowered officials may be directed to be present amongst the crowd and warn smokers / issue challans / collect fines,” he said.

As huge crowds will be gathering to watch the Jumboo Savari much before the procession starts, Mr. Mysoremath said the crowd can be engaged with mobile loud speaker announcements against the ill effects of smoking.

The messages should also create awareness on how discarded cigarette filters made of non-bio degradable cellulose acetate contaminate water bodies with toxics and how they pollute the environment, he said.