Tuesday, December 5, 2017

World Day of Remembrance (WDR) for Road Accident Victims - Jaipur

Tuesday, December 05, 2017 by Unknown No comments
To mark the World Day of Remembrance for road accidents victims, Consumer VOICE New Delhi, along with Rajasthan Police, Road Safety Cell, Department of Transport, Govt. of Rajasthan, Jaipur Traffic Police and Centre for Road Safety, Sardar Patel University organized a walkathon on November 19, 2017. The walkathon which started form Traffic Park, Shastri Nagar, Jaipur was in partnership with national and international organizations including FIA Foundation, NCC, NSS, Department of Lifelong Learning, University of Rajasthan, Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety and Bhartiya Manav Kalyan Samiti, People’s Trust, CUTS FIA Foundation, NCC, NSS, Department of Lifelong Learning, University of Rajasthan, Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety and Bhartiya Manav Kalyan Samiti, People’s Trust, and CUTS.

Walkathon in Jaipur

The event witnessed participation of more than 700 people including Mrs. S. Parimala, Superintendent of Police (Traffic).  Members from National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service Scheme (NSS), NGOs, Traffic Police and also from victims’ family joined the event. Ms. Prerna Arora, Centre Coordinator, Centre for Road Safety spoke about the importance of the UN World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims which is organized on the 3rd Sunday of November every year.

World Day of Remembrance


Mr. Rajneesh, Public Relation Officer of the Department of Transport, Rajasthan also shared his life’s major incident when his journalist wife met with an accident. In the remembrance of passed souls, white balloons were floated in the sky by Mrs. S. Parimala, Superintendent of Police (Traffic) along with other dignitaries viz Sh. Aswini Bagga, Dr. Maya Tandon, Ms. Shilpa, and Additional SP, Traffic Police. They also shared their thoughts on the importance of Road Safety. Mrs. Indra, Sub-Inspector and In-charge of Education Cell of Jaipur Traffic Police informed about the various road safety norms and importance of safety gears such as helmets and seat belts.

A small rally for awareness among the general public was also organized by the NCC and NSS corps
and a pledge to all was carried out by Ms. Indra at the end of the event.

The event was well covered by the press and media.

DNA


Mahanagar Times

Mahanagar Times

Punjab Kesari 

Rajasthan Patrika

Samachar Jagat


Monday, December 4, 2017

World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims - Noida

Monday, December 04, 2017 by Unknown No comments
To mark the World Day of Remembrance (WDR) for Road traffic Victims Consumer VOICE along with its state partner, Bhartiya Manav Kalyan Samiti, Noida organized a walkathon on 19th November in Noida.

Walkathon organised by Consumer VOICE and Bhartiya Manav Kalyan Samiti, Noida 


People from all walks of life assembled at the Community Center of Sector 23, Noida for the walkathon. Sri A. K. Singh, Superintendent of Police, Noida flagged-off the rally. He asked for greater awareness on traffic rules and also all the citizens to adhere to the traffic rules.

Sri Hemant Upadhaya, Advisor Consumer VOICE who was also present for the occasion reiterated that Motor Vehicle Amendment Bill 2017 should be urgently cleared. He hoped that in the coming winter session of the Parliament it will be passed.

World Day of Reemembrance


Sri S.C.Sharma, President Bhartiya Manav Kalyan Samiti mentioned the deaths that one witnesses every day on Indian roads. He urged that we should feel and understand that traffic rules are for own safety. He also demanded the quick clearance of the MVA Bill 2017.

This peaceful march through main road covering a distance of about two kilometer reached Noida Stadium at Gate Number 4 where Sri M.K Singh City Magistrate received the memorandum and assured that suitable action will be taken in this regard.

Children Participating in Walkathon in Noida


There were nearly 200 participants comprising students, eminent persons including presidents of Residents Welfare Associations and respectable citizens of Noida Associations, Advocates, and Media Persons. The Event ended after refreshment to participants.

The event was also well covered by the press and media.

Chetna Manch

Capital Zone
Hind Ki Jameen

Navodaya

Noida Kesri

Vishwa Guru

Amar Ujala


Friday, December 1, 2017

World Day of Remembrance ( WDR ) for Road accident Victims-Chandigarh

Friday, December 01, 2017 by Unknown 1 comment
To mark the World Day of Remembrance (WDR) for road accident victims Consumer VOICE, New Delhi along with its state partner Citizen Awareness Group Chandigarh and Chandigarh Police organized a walk at Children's Park, Sector 23, on November 19, 2017 to demand safer roads for all.

The ‘Walk for Safer Roads’ which was attended by 250 people was followed by a candlelight march which saw the participation of social activists, personnel of Chandigarh Police, Traffic Police, scores of students of MCM College and Home Science College.

Walk for Safer Roads in Chandigarh


DSP Traffic, Rajeev Ambasta delivered a talk and gave detailed information on traffic rules. Motivational speaker and Traffic Marshal, Mohinder Kour Kataria spoke on the significance of the day.

On this occasion, Surinder Verma, Chairman Citizen Awareness Group said that “this is the third year in a row that we are observing this day in remembrance of Road Traffic Victims with the support of Consumer Voice Delhi which is also working tirelessly to raise the demand for early passage of Motor Vehicle Amendment Bill 2017.”

Candle Light March in Chandigarh


Chandigarh alone witnessed 428 road crashes, 329 injuries and 151 road fatalities in the year 2016 as per the report released by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). These casualties include thousands of children and youth into their productive years of life. The passage of Bill is crucial in the upcoming session.

Amarjeet Singh Advisor, Consumer Voice said that the Road Safety Bill promised by the government is yet to see the light and we urge the government to pass the Motor Vehicle Amendment Bill 2017 in the next session of Parliament.

WDR in Chandigarh

The memorandum was submitted to the Transport minister and Transport Commissioner of Punjab and a copy to Shri Nitin Gadkari, Hon’ble Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways.

 Online Coverage:



 The event was covered by various print and electronic media.

Times of India

Punjabi Tribune

Chandigarh Tribune

Ajit 

Ajit Samachar

Amar Ujala

Dainik Jagran

Dainik Savera

Jagbani




Wednesday, November 29, 2017

World Day of Remembrance ( WDR ) for Road Accident Victims - Lucknow, UP

Wednesday, November 29, 2017 by Unknown 1 comment
To mark the World Day of Remembrance (WDR) for road accident victims Consumer VOICE, New Delhi along with its state partner Consumer Guild Lucknow organized a walk from Swasthya Bhawan Chauraha near (old High Court Building) to Shaheed Smarak, on November 19, 2017 to demand safer roads for all.

Walkathon in Lucknow


People from all walks of life, lawyers, Govt employees, Bar Association Representatives, Students, NGO representatives, and Media had participated actively in the program. Peace walk started from Swasthya Bhawan Chauraha and moved from Civil Court, Uttar Pradesh State Transport Corporation Head office, Transport Commissioner office and ended at Shaeed Smarak.

A two minute silence was observed in the remembrance of road traffic victims. Mr.Gangaphal, the Additional Secretary Transport Road Safety & IT Govt. of Uttar Pradesh sent a message on Road Safety and appreciated the walkathon. A memorandum was submitted to the Additional secretary and a copy was sent to the State Transport Minister Shri Swatantra Dev Singh and Shri Nitin Gadkari, Hon’ble Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways.

WDR in Lucknow

On this occasion Abhishek Srivastava Chairman, Consumer Guild said that this is the third year in a row we are observing this day in the remembrance of Road Traffic Victims with the support of Consumer Voice Delhi. We are also tirelessly working on to raise our voice to demand early passage of Motor Vehicle Amendment Bill 2017. He said that in U.P alone 35,612 road crashes , 25096 injuries and 19,320 road fatalities occurred in the year 2016.

Imran Ullah Khan, Rajat Bansal Advocate, Anshu Singh Office Bearer of Oudh Bar Association, Rusheeda Women Activist, Pratyush Chaubey, Robin, Pradeep Gupta , President Vaish Samaj Uttar Pradesh, Lavi Tikkha Awadh Upbhokta Hit Sanrkshan Samiti, RD Shukla from Arpan Sewa Sansthan, Akhilesh Tiwari Dukhna Devi Sewa Sanshthan, Amita Yadav Advocate, Amjad Siddiqui also spoke on the occasion and demanded early passage of Motor Vehicle Amendment Bill 2017, Few accident victims also shared their experience .

Ekta Purohit who represented Consumer Voice, said that The Road Safety bill promised by the government is yet to see the light and ‘we urge the government to pass the Motor Vehicle Amendment Bill 2017 in the next session of Parliament. The event was covered by various print and electronic media.

Media Coverage in Various Newspapers

Hindustan

Swatantra Bharat

Tezkhawar

Amar Ujala

Armantoday

AVNN News

Pioneer

Pioneer

Rashtriya Sahara





Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Don’t Huff Puff Your Way with Hookah – An Observational Study on Hookah Bars in Delhi

Tuesday, November 28, 2017 by Unknown No comments

Hookah smoking  in Delhi

A survey of Hookah Bars in Delhi was conducted by MART in partnership with VOICE in October 2017 with special focus on consumption by children and young adults, in the wake of the increased dangers posed by Hookah consumption and the restrictions put forth by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Government of NCT of Delhi. The research team visited 40 hookah bars, identified on the basis of information from online portals and through dipstick survey.

Did you know?

  • Hookah smoking is not safer than smoking cigarette.
  • A hookah smoking session may expose the smoker to more smoke over a longer period of time than occurs when smoking a cigarette.
  • Hookah smokers may absorb higher concentrations of the same toxins found in cigarette smoke
  • Hookah smoke contains many of the same harmful toxins as cigarette smoke and has been associated with lung cancer, respiratory illness, low birth weight, and periodontal disease.
Tobacco kills about 1 million Indians everyday and the various forms in which tobacco is consumed in Indian include chewing tobacco in the form of ghutka, paan, etc., smoking in the form of cigarettes, bidis, hookah, etc. and snuffing.


Hookah Bar in Delhi

The observations were made on:
  • the signage inside the bars;
  • the interiors which were scanned for the presence or lack thereof of separate smoking areas;
  • the personnel in the bars were observed for any checks on age and the policies regarding age restrictions were enquired of; and
  • the presence or absence of minors consuming hookah.
Hookah bar menu

Key Findings of the Study

  • Certain hookah bars were located near educational institutions and also in areas which had presence of students, youths.(Rajdhani College, North Campus etc)
  • In the bars located near educational institutions, the prices of hookah were much less than hookah bars in up-market location.
  • None of the hookah bars had personnel checking the age of the customers.
  • Minors were observed to be consuming hookah in 17% of the surveyed bars. Children from the age of 13 upwards were observed to be consuming hookah in these bars.
  • The timings of visit by children and young adults in these bars coincided with them skipping school or visiting these places immediately after school
  • The COTPA Rules (Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places Rules, 2008, G.S.R 417(E), dated the 30th May, 2008 as amended vide G.S.R. No. 500(E) dated 23.05.2017), was not being complied with, as:
      a. Service of hookah, food, drinks etc was allowed in these bars.
      b. Some of the bars did not display the mandatory signage: “tobacco smoking is harmful to your health and the health of non-smokers; and entry of person below the age of eighteen years is prohibited”.
  • These bars displayed hookah equipment inside the premises. 
  • Some of these Bars also had a separate Hookah Menu.

Monday, November 27, 2017

Media Coverage: National Stakeholders' Consultation Workshop of Consumer VOICE

Monday, November 27, 2017 by Unknown No comments
Consumer VOICE organised a National Stakeholders' consultation workshop to generate awareness about Road safety at Hotel the Royal Plaza, New Delhi on 23rd & 24th November, 2017. The inaugural address was delivered by Mr. Ashim Sanyal, Chief Operating Officer, Consumer VOICE. He gave a presentation on work done by Consumer VOICE on road safety and said “Motor Vehicle Amendment Bill, is long due for passage in Rajya Sabha. Working with many state partners on this critical issue it was appealed to the policy makers/parliamentarians to treat it as very important bill for passage in the coming winter session."

Mr Ashim Sanyal, COO of Consumer VOICE


Mr. Nalin Sinha, India representative of Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) made a presentation highlighting key road accident data, main causes of road accident and steps needed to be taken to strengthen road safety. He said the transportation system should be developed keeping first in view the vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, women and children and not only big cars, which are only 2.5 % of total transportation.

Mr. Nalin Sinha, India representative of Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI)


 Mr. Veerendra  Rathod, Technical Consultant,(Road Safety & Enforcement) Ministry of Road Transport & Highways Mr. Veerendra  Rathod, Technical Consultant,(Road Safety & Enforcement) Ministry of Road Transport & Highways spoke about the road safety system approach and how CSOs can work effectively to reduce road fatalities.

The workshop also highlighted the work done by Consumer VOICE in the last decade on different consumer issues such as road safety, food safety, tobacco control, digital literacy, financial literacy etc.
State Partners at National Stakeholders' Consultation Workshop


The workshop was attended by 16 State Partners of VOICE from 10 different States and many stakeholders who are active on Road Safety issues.

The workshop was also attended by several print and electronic media as well. It was covered well by several newspapers and even Doordarshan.

 Coverage by DD
















Friday, November 17, 2017

Tobacco products still available around Delhi schools despite ban - Consumer VOICE Field Research reveals

Friday, November 17, 2017 by Unknown No comments
Consumer VOICE has been tirelessly fighting against the menace of tobacco. In one of its efforts to bring to the notice of the government that COTPA Act is openly, flouted, the field research team observed 30 schools in Delhi and to its dismay found cigarettes and tobacco products being sold openly by kiosks in close vicinity to the school. Read on the complete report published in a leading National Daily. 

Tobacco products are still being sold close to schools, both private and government, despite restrictions on kiosks or shops within 100 yards of a school to help curb tobacco menace in children.
Observational visit was undertaken by Consumer Voice Delhi, an organisation working on consumer issues, covered 30 schools in south and east Delhi. They found tobacco being sold in 11 schools. The non-government organisation covered both government and private schools.

A kiosk near a leading school in Delhi

‘Deadly infiltration’

“As our field research proved, there’s a deadly infiltration of tobacco products around schools despite laws banning the same. Children are being lured into trying out tobacco, which ultimately becomes a habit leading to deadly health consequences. We urge the Delhi government to ensure there are no kiosks or shops near schools and that they should be removed from the 100-yard vicinity of schools to help curb tobacco menace to save innocent children. Tobacco is openly available near educational institutions despite a ban on its sale within 100 yards of a school campus,” said Ashim Sanyal, the chief operating officer of Consumer Voice.

The violation, according to those working in the field of tobacco control, is happening despite government claims about taking several stringent measures to curb the menace of tobacco products, and sale of tobacco products in shops near schools and colleges is on a high. This is a violation of the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act (COTPA), 2003.

Tobacco products are easily available to school students
According to the Global Youth Tobacco Survey, conducted by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare among students across the country, 14.6% of 13 to 15-year-olds students use tobacco. Of these, 8.1% students smoked tobacco. As many as 11% of all male students surveyed were found to be users of smoking or smokeless tobacco, while 6% of female students used smokeless tobacco and 3.7% smoked tobacco.

According to the Ministry, nearly 37% children in India start smoking before the age of 10 years and 5,500 children start tobacco use daily. The findings of these studies highlight the need for targeted interventions among the youth in general and students in particular, given the marketing overdrive by the tobacco industry to promote its use among the youth.

Authorised shops

The Ministry had recently issued letters to Chief Secretaries of all States, including Delhi, regarding developing mechanism to provide permission/ authorisation through municipal authorities by making a provision that retail shops authorised to sell tobacco products cannot sell any non-tobacco products. The Centre has appealed to the State municipal authorities to regulate sale of tobacco through authorised shops.
A road side kiosk next to the wall of the school

“Every day, 5,500 children get lured into tobacco use and a third of them die due of cancer, heart attack, asthma,’’ said Harit Chaturvedi, surgical oncology, Max Health Care, New Delhi. 

Source: The Hindu 

  • Watch Mr. Sri Ram Khanna, Managing Trustee, VOICE, talking about Tobacco Menace in teenagers. 
  • To know more about COTPA ACT, click here. 




COTPA Act openly violated near schools in Delhi

Friday, November 17, 2017 by Unknown 2 comments
Speaking to one of the correspondents of a leading national daily, Mr. Ashim Sanyal, COO, Consumer VOICE, India revealed that COTPA (Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003) is openly violated near the school of south and East Delhi.

The field researchers of Consumer VOICE surveyed 30 schools in Delhi and found shops and kiosks selling tobacco products in the close vicinity of the school that is less than yards from the school.

COTPA act flouted near school, reveals Ashim Sanyal (COO, Consumer VOICE)

“As our field research proved, there’s a deadly infiltration of tobacco products around schools despite laws banning the same. Children are being lured into trying out tobacco, which ultimately becomes a habit leading to deadly health consequences. We urge the Delhi government to ensure there are no kiosks or shops near schools and that they should be removed from the 100-yard vicinity of schools to help curb tobacco menace to save innocent children. Tobacco is openly available near educational institutions despite a ban on its sale within 100 yards of a school campus,” said Ashim Sanyal, the chief operating officer of Consumer Voice.

Watch Mr. Sri Ram Khanna, Managing Trustee, VOICE, talking about Tobacco Menace in teenagers.

  • To read complete report on the field search, click here.  
  • To know more about COTPA ACT, click here. 


Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Antibiotic Resistance

Wednesday, November 15, 2017 by Unknown No comments
We all have used antibiotics to treat severe bacterial infections at some point or the other. But medics are now concerned about the misuse that has contributed to a rise in disease causing bacterial resistance.

What is Antibiotic Resistance?
When an antibiotic drug no longer has an effect on a certain strain of bacteria, those bacteria are said to be antibiotic resistant. Overuse of antibiotics fuels antibiotic resistance in bacteria which can inhibit the treatment of antibiotic resistant infections. Misuse or overuse of antibiotics leads to potentially serious effects on health. It has led to creation of multidrug-resistant bacteria, informally called "super bugs":

Even relatively harmless bacteria such as staphylococcus can develop resistance to multiple antibiotics and cause life-threatening infections. The fact that bacteria develop resistance to a drug is normal and expected. However, the way that drugs are used affects how quickly and to what extent drug resistance occurs.

Misuse of Antibiotics
Use of antibiotics without clinical indication, use of broad spectrum antibiotics, inappropriate dose and duration are few factors that lead to misuse of antibiotics. We also tend to consume antibiotics for viral infections where it is not required like common cold, Flu, Bronchitis, cough, sinus, ear infections. Use of antibiotics against these diseases is superfluous and can put the patient at risk of suffering adverse reaction.

Effects of Antibiotic Resistance
In recent years, the pace of drug resistance has contributed to an increasing number of health care problems. A report by CDCP (Centre for Disease Control and Prevention), America states that at least 2 million people annually "acquire serious infections with bacteria that are resistant to one or more of the antibiotics designed to treat those infections." At least 23,000 people die annually from antibiotic-resistant infections.

The increasing number of drug-resistant infections results in:
  • More-serious illness or disability
  • More deaths from previously treatable illnesses
  • Prolonged recovery
  • Less effective or more-invasive treatments

Protection from Antibiotic Resistance
An appropriate use of antibiotics can help preserve the effectiveness of current antibiotics, extend their life span and protect the public from antibiotic-resistant infections.  We can help reduce the development of antibiotic resistance by taking the following steps:
  • Use antibiotics only as prescribed by the doctor.
  •  Take the appropriate daily dosage and complete the entire course of treatment.
  • Don’t consume leftover pills
  • Don't pressure your doctor prescribe antibiotics. Ask your doctor for advice on how to treat symptoms.
  • Practice good hygiene. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, especially after using the toilet, before eating, before preparing food and after handling fresh meat. Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly, and keep kitchen work surfaces clean.
  • Be particular about your vaccination
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