Mumbai students seek Chief Justice's help to kick the butt

A seven-ft-tall cigarette in the Jai Hind College cafeteria gives a message to students to kick the butt. It has messages from smokers and non-smokers to discourage students from smoking.

The mass media students of Jai Hind College have launched an anti-smoking campaign, LifeWings.

They have written to the Chief Justice of Bombay High Court, requesting him to strongly enforce the rule of not allowing any tobacco shop within a km from any educational institutes.

The letter to the Chief Justice reads: "Our main concern is the shops selling cigarettes almost right outside colleges and schools in the city. A walk past one of these shops, the urge strikes and the instant buying and lighting of the cigarette satisfies the urge of the habit. If that moment is lost, it means one cigarette less smoked. To curb smoking around educational institutes, it is very important to strongly enforce the law."

A study conducted by students before launching the campaign found that 99% of students will smoke when they see friends or colleagues  lighting up as they want to be a part of the group.

"We are not preaching about the hazards of smoking and its consequences and scaring people with rotten lung images. We are only delivering a simple message to nurture and protect life and nature," said Minnat Doshee, a third-year mass media student who is part of this project.

The students are going to colleges and schools spreading the anti-smoking message. "We got a good response everywhere," said Doshee.

Students have uploaded a video on Youtube.