As per the guidelines of the University Grants Commission (UGC), Meenakshi College of Arts and Science (MCAS), MAHER, organized an awareness programme on 18th December 2025 in observance of World No Tobacco Day 2025. The programme was conducted with the objective of sensitizing students to the harmful effects of tobacco consumption and its far-reaching impact on health, family, society, and the environment.
The programme commenced with a welcome address by Dr. N. Prabavathi Devi, Principal, Shift–II, MCAS, who highlighted that tobacco use adversely affects both active and passive smokers and leads to severe health complications. She emphasized the urgent need for prevention strategies and encouraged students to take responsibility in promoting healthy lifestyle choices.
The resource person, Prof. Dr. T. Mythili, Department of Psychology, delivered an enlightening and informative session on the physical and psychological consequences of tobacco use. She explained in detail how tobacco consumption causes oral and dental diseases such as gum infections and tooth loss, and significantly increases the risk of various cancers including lung, oral, throat, esophageal, bladder, liver, stomach, pancreatic, colon, cervical cancers, and acute myeloid leukaemia. She also highlighted the impact of tobacco on the cardiovascular system, noting that it hardens and narrows blood vessels, often leading to strokes.
From a psychological perspective, she explained that tobacco addiction impairs concentration, memory, decision-making ability, and problem-solving skills, while stress associated with dependency further deteriorates mental health. She emphasized that tobacco use accounts for more than one crore deaths globally every year and strongly advocated for youth involvement in building a tobacco-free society. The session concluded with an appeal to students to take an oath against tobacco use and to actively create awareness among family members and the community.
Students actively participated in the programme and, as part of the awareness initiative, took the E-Pledge through the MyGov platform and downloaded their e-certificates, reaffirming their commitment to a tobacco-free lifestyle. The programme was effectively coordinated by Dr. R. Shanthi, UGC Coordinator, MCAS, and Mrs. S. Malarvizhi, UGC Coordinator, MAHER Campus, and concluded with a positive impact and enhanced awareness among the participants, reinforcing the collective responsibility towards a healthier and tobacco-free future.
