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NT Bureau
Chennai, July 21:

        'While tobacco consumption has come down in most of the developed nations, it is on the rise in developing countries like India,' Minister for Social Welfare Poongothai Aladi Aruna has said.

        Speaking at an inaugural ceremony of the series of life- skills training programme for the empowerment of youth against high- risk behaviour at University of Madras yesterday, the Minister said children exposed to passive smoking develop problems in their IQ. According to research, most of the youngsters who get addicted to smoking die in their productive age of 35 to 40.

        The Minister said there were 62.46 million smokers in the country. Of them, 92 per cent were men. Terming smoking as an international menace, she said those who kept off tobacco and drugs can lead a healthy life.

        To address the rising concern of youngsters getting addicted to smoking, Cancer Institute at Adyar, in association with NSS unit of Madras University and World Health Organisation, was planning to conduct a series of life-skills training programmes for college students in Chennai.

        Among the 776 students, who were screened for various problems that they faced, 275 students were chosen to take part in the training programme which is to be handled by experts free of cost. A team of 18 counsellors had been chosen from various colleges for the purpose of assisting their peers in self-development. The team would also involve in social service activities.

        Chairman of Cancer Institute V Shanta said tobacco was the single greatest cause of non-communicable disease. 'To prevent many from taking to smoking the government should give preference to non - tobacco smokers in the appointment of teachers in schools and colleges,' she said adding that tobacco-related cancer constitute 45 per cent of cancer in men and 14 per cent in women.

        Vice-Chancellor of Madras University S Ramachandran said there was a dire need for the youth to be trained and equipped in various life-skills, which can help them to cope with mounting psychological pressure and overcome high-risk behaviour.