World No Tobacco Day 2018

This year the theme of the World Health Organisation (WHO) is "Tobacco and heart disease". Keeping this goal in mind, our workshop was curated to highlight the importance and urgency of adopting tobacco control programs effectively amongst corporates. Held on May 30th 2018, the program had diverse stakeholders like various corporate houses and NGOs working in the containment of tobacco addiction who helped design the unique workshop. Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, Head and Neck Cancer Surgeon - Tata Memorial Hospital, opened the event with an inaugural talk on the prevailing issue at hand, followed by a case study presented by Ms. Madhura Talegaonkar, Head CSR – Bajaj Electricals Ltd.

Speaking on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day 2018, with the theme of “Tobacco Breaks Hearts”, Mr. Shekhar Bajaj, Chairman and Managing Director, Bajaj Electricals Ltd. said, “The health of the society is largely dependent on the informed choices that our children and youth will be empowered to take. Bajaj Electricals is actively taking steps to ensure that we can lead by example and influence healthy tobacco-free living for a better India.”

We have also expanded the reach of the program to rural sectors in two districts of Maharashtra - Yavatmal and Wardha. The program mainly focuses on community-level awareness especially among school going children through local stakeholders such as the education department, health professionals, police authorities, local leaders and decision-makers, NGOs and engaging policymakers to create tobacco-free environment. Internally as well, our organisation, through a sustained approach, has succeeded in persuading employees to give up tobacco and has 99% of tobacco-free workforce.