‘Tambakhu Mukhta Party

On New Year’s Eve, Mumbai’s young 

citizens cast votes against tobacco

Children drive home anti-tobacco message via mock

 polling campaign, complete with dummy political 

party and polling booth

In keeping with the spirit of ringing in the New Year with hopes, goals and resolutions, school children associated with NGO Salaam Bombay Foundation (SBF), staged a mock election drive resolving to strive for a Tobacco-free world in 2014.

Building on the election mood in the country, the school children were seen dressed as party workers of a make-believe political party fighting for the rights of children to live in a tobacco-free world. Calling themselves the ‘Tambakhu Mukhta Party’, the children went about urging people to cast their vote against tobacco at a mock polling booth set up for the purpose, at Colaba Municipal School. Little children were seen wearing white ‘Gandhi topis’ with the slogan ‘Mai Tambakhu Mukhta Hoon’ and queuing up to vote against tobacco. The venue displayed anti-tobacco banners and placards which urged people to vote for a tobacco-free life in the coming year.

The children are part of a continuing programme called Super Army, developed by Salaam Bombay Foundation, which empowers children to wage the war against tobacco with weapons of art, theatre and music. The programme presently covers over 230 BMC schools across Mumbai and is committed to spreading awareness against tobacco among children, their peers and in their community.

Speaking of this initiative Devika Chadha, Programme Director, Salaam Bombay Foundation said, “It is amazing to see how this young brigade recognizes its responsibility of not only   making a right choice in voting for a Tobacco-Free future but also motivating adults to take the right decisions. Children can make a big difference to society by spreading such a significant message of a healthy lifestyle.”

Appreciating the efforts of the Maharashtra State Government in banning gutkha and pan masala in the state, Mr Amber Singh Magar, Principal, Colaba Municipal School, said, “We are very happy with the government’s decision to ban tobacco products. Moreover our students have made us proud by continuing to creating awareness against tobacco thereby supporting this ban. We hope more people do join in and vote (pledge) for Tobacco Free 2014.”

Young school children leading such initiatives pave the way to an inevitable tobacco-free future ahead, Mr Magar added.

About Salaam Bombay Foundation

Salaam Bombay Foundation, a non-profit organization, was established in 2002 to empower children to say no to tobacco. The organization provides children with training, performance and reflection platforms to develop life skills that lead to personal and vocational empowerment.  These platforms are made available through the Sports, Arts and Tobacco control advocacy programmes.  At Salaam Bombay Foundation, we believe that empowerment leads to informed decisions. The organization is active in 87 municipal and 34 government-aided schools in Mumbai and its outreach programmes have reached 27 districts of rural Maharashtra.