Mumbai Police says NO to Tobacco

"Conquer  the evil in you before conquering the evil out side" said Buddha. 

50 year old  president medal winner police constable Pralhad Madane practised this preaching in his life when he quit chewing tobacco three years ago . In 2014, when Madane was posted at MRA (Mata Ramabai Ambedkar)Marg police station) he came across a person whose face was distorted due to cancer because of his tobacco addiction, as told to him by a medical practitioner at KEM . That was a turning point in Madane’s life who then decided to quit tobacco at once .

Madane was not the only one, but there are over 1050 police officials  from various police stations in the city who have given up tobacco for a better life. And this is success of  tobacco-free police station campaign. Since 2015, 3000 police officials  from  85 police station across Mumbai (Sion, Matunga, Worli, Mahim ,Byculla ,Dharavi. etc.) were subjected to a survey and number of medical tests.  "It was found that 70% of them were tobacco addict and many of them showed preliminary symptoms of cancer," said Anita Peter, Executive Director CPAA.

That is when Ex-Commissioner Rakesh Maria took an initiative along with CPAA to rectify this situation. A series of counseling workshops  followed and will date the numbers of addicts are now reduced to 35%.  "It was not a cake walk though, as most of the police officials are often seen consuming gutkha and tobacco to relive stress of their long working hours," said Satish  Mathur, DGP, Maharashtra. 

Naturally their courage and grit called for celebration and reward. Hence, CPAA recently felicitated police officers who conquered their in the battle against tobacco. "Police officers who will adopt healthy lifestyle and quit addictions will be rewarded by annual allowances," said Mathur.

CPAA brand ambassador Vivek Oberoi who is  playing a cop in his forth coming film Bank Chor admitted on this occasion that films have a role in glorifying consumption of tobacco and cops are always stereotyped. They are shown chewing tobacco, but this scene is changing fast. 

Well, that is some change. Isn't it ?