Mumbai:
In a bid to contain tobacco consumption among policemen, Mumbai Police today said it plans to incentivise 'tobacco free' police stations.
Speaking at 'Tobacco Free Mumbai Police' programme, organised by Cancer Aid Patient Association (CPAA), Joint Commissioner of Mumbai Police (Law and Order) Deven Bharti said he has met city Police Commissioner in this regard and likely to come out with something concrete in this regard soon.
"I have proposed a plan to the Police Commissioner (Rakesh Maria) on incentivising police stations that will be recognised and declared 'tobacco free' through survey and I am hopeful it would serve the purpose," he said.
On the occasion, CPAA released a report which stated that nearly 70 per cent among 3,000 police officers in the city consume some or the other form of tobacco product, while 35 per cent were found to have precancerous lesion and condition.
Mr Bharti, however, refuted the report and said as per records of past 10 years, only 30 per cent police staff consumes tobacco.
"I don't think 70 per cent figure is right. Data of last 10 years show that 30 per cent staff is addicted to tobacco," he said.
Meanwhile, actor Vivek Oberoi, chief guest at the programme, appealed to policemen to quit tobacco addiction and said, "Tobacco is the EMI of death. Hence avoid it."
CPAA in the report highlighted occupational stress as the key reason behind tobacco consumption among police personnel.
Special invitee from WHO Vineet Gill said about 5,000 children start using tobacco every day in India while every hour nearly 3,000 people die from tobacco usage in the country.
Former commissioner of Mumbai Police PS Pasricha, actress Ravina Tondon, Chairman and CEO of CPAA YK Sapru, Joint Commissioner Mumbai Police (Admin) Anup Kumar Singh, Joint Commissioner (Crime) Atulchandra Kulkarni and others also attended the programme.