Along with the rest of the world, Livingstone Foundation Hr. Sec. School (LFHSS) observed the World No Tobacco Day 2017 on May 31 at its campus on the theme “Tobacco – a threat to development.”
Presenting his key note address, head of Academics, Prabhat Mandal called upon all the students as well as teachers to abstain themselves from all sorts of tobacco substances including smokeless and smoke tobacco so that their lives do not turn into ashes.
The school organized various competitions for its students including, essay writing, painting and slogan-writing where students from Grades IV till XII participated. The other highlights included the presentation of the significance of the day and a speech on the ill-effects of tobacco. Vote of thanks was delivered by coordinator, Zakir Hussain thanked the teachers and students and the District Nodal Officer of Dimapur’s National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), Dr. C. Tetseo (in absentia) for encouraging educational institutions to participate in tobacco eradication programmes and also for pioneering the tobacco control programme in Dimapur.
SMHSS: In St. Mary’s Higher Secondary School (SMHSS) students took part by making various drawings about the day. An awareness program was also held about the hazards of tobacco use followed by an oath against tobacco usage.
SJHS: Saint John’s High School (SJHS), Diphupar ‘B’ observed the day at the school premises with Dr. C Tetseo as the special guest. Dr. C Tetseo in his short speech urged the students to stay away from all tobacco products as it led to diseases affecting heart and lungs and many types of cancer.
The programme was chaired by teacher Molongla LKR. A demonstration on “how consuming tobacco affects the human body” was given by Akumienla and Imnasenla of Class 8. Earlier, the students of all the classes had written down all their bad habits on a piece of paper which was later disposed off by the class leaders in the coffin during the function. Farewell song“Have Thine Own Way Lord” was presented by Class-8 girls. The discarding of bad habits of the students and oath taking ceremony was initiated by Johny Abraham, the headmaster. Short speech were delivered by the students of class -10 and farewell prayer by pastor Wojanthung Ngullie of Lotha Baptist Church Diphupar – B .
Students of classes 6 to 10 in collaboration with the headmaster and teachers also marched in procession starting from the school gate to 5th Mile junction, carrying a display coffin made out of empty cigarette packets and tobacco wrappers with an effigy of a tobacco lover, the students also shouted and carried anti-tobacco slogans. Teachers Sorotsa and Rhonthungo Kikon also highlighted on the hazards and effects of consuming tobacco to the public at 5th Mile junction and local ground Diphupar – B where they were joined by the students of class –8 of Government Middle School Diphupar – B. Altogether procession covered a distance of around 2.5 k.m.
Johny Abraham the headmaster said that students should abstain from all bad habits and reminded the students to help prevent their friends, parents, relatives and neighbours from consuming tobacco products. He also added that everyone must intend in making Diphupar – B a Tobacco Free Village. Headmaster, teachers, students of both the school and parents witnessed the burning of the dummy along with the coffin at the local ground.
RJHSS: In Ram Janaki Hr. Sec. School, Dimapur, under the direction of the principal H. P. Gupta, P.C. Modi, PGT organized essay writing competition on the theme in which the students of different classes participated.
The students also brought attractive posters headed “Say No to Tobacco”. A thoughtful speech about the evil effects of tobacco was delivered by P.C. Modi, PGT to make the students aware of the evil effects of tobacco. All the activities were performed under the supervision of B.S. Tripathi, PGT, English. Vice-principal P.K. Sah encouraged and thanked to all the participants.
7 Assam Rifles: 7 Assam Rifles under the aegis of Headquarters IGAR (N) observed the day at Kiphire, with a lecture by chief judicial magistrate Kiphire. PRO stated that objective was to create mass awakening in youth against side effects of tobacco products to the individuals and for the whole society. Around 450 people including youths of Kiphire town attended the lecture.
15 Assam Rifles: 15 Assam Rifles under the aegis of Headquarters IGAR (N) observed the day at Holy Angel’s School, Noklak. Approximately 55 students and 5 teachers attended the lecture, conducted by Capt Harish Magdum. The lecture was aimed at educating the students on the ill effects of narcotics, drugs and tobacco.
44 Assam Rifles: 44 Assam Rifles, under the aegis of Headquarters IGAR (N), took the initiative to educate the young minds at Bautung Government Higher Secondary School at Longleng. Maj H R Singh delivered an elaborate lecture and conducted on interactive session to highlight the ill effects of consuming Tobacco. The lecture was attended by 50 students.
35 Assam Rifles: 35 Assam Rifles under the aegis of HQ IGAR (North) organised a lecture on non consumption and ill effect of tobacco, wherin Maj S D Sonar and RMO Capt Tejesh highlighted the physical, mental, occupational and financial hazards by the use of tobacco, cigarettes and drugs.
Approximately 130 persons including students, member of youth club attended the lecture.