Mangaluru: “A smoker can never become a hero in our society. People respect only such people who don’t smoke and consume liquor”, said senior civil judge and District Legal Services Authority Member Secretary A G Gangadhar on Friday, May 31.

Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the district level ‘World No Tobacco Day’ organised at the Town Hall, he said, “When there was illiteracy in our country, very few people used to be the victims of smoking. But now, despite literacy, the number of smokers has increased. There is a notion among a large section of the general public that smokers are heroic or supreme. Such notions should be changed.”

He also asked people to create awareness about the ill-effects of smoking. The awareness on smoking should be spread in schools and colleges to construct a healthy society, Gangadhar opined.

President of Red Cross Society Dakshina Kannada district unit, C A Shantharam Shetty said, “Over 7 million succumb every year worldwide due to tobacco consumption. Hence, non-governmental organisations should work hard to prevent people from falling victims to tobacco.”

DK Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Selvamani R presided over the programme. District Health Officer (DHO) Dr. M Ramakrishna Rao delivered the introductory address. Red Cross Society Honorary Secretary Prabhakar Sharma welcomed the gathering. Wenlock Hospital Superintendent Dr. Rajeshwari Devi, Akhil Bharata Janajagruti Vedike President Mahabala Chowta among others were present.