CII Young Indians has announced a mega awareness campaign to educate youths - from 15 to 35 years of age - about mouth cancer. The Statewide campaign will kicks tart from May 31 (The World No Tobacco Day) in which a team of doctors, CII Young Indians officials, volunteers from government and private institutions will visit school, colleges and various institutions.

Under to campaign experts will conduct lectures, exhibitions and pledge ceremonies to inspire youths to shun tobacco. They will also do a follow up rounds after 30 days to ensure tobacco users stick to their pledge.

Rakesh Sukhramani, chairman, CII Young Indians Bhopal informed this at a press conference organised here on the eve of World No Tobacco Day. Dentist Dr Prashant Tripathi and CII Young Indians Social Vertical Head Ravikant Garg also addressed the press conference.

Sukhramani said Bhopal tops mouth cancer cases in the country and the number of cases in other cities of State is on the rise. It is third biggest cause of cancer deaths in the country.

He said growing consumption of tobacco products such as gutkha, khaini, bidi, cigarette and hukkah among youths is a matter of serious concern. In order to discourage use of these products and to promote health lifestyle the CII Young Indians has taken up awareness campaign in Madhya Pradesh. This campaign will be focussed on four major cities - Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior and Jabalpur. Dr Prashant Tripathi said that mouth cancer constitutes 42 per cent of all cancers. On an average it causes 14 deaths per hour in the country. This statistics is alarming and immediate steps should be taken to curb it. He said second hand smoking is a serious threat to those who do not smoke or chew tobacco. The smoke inhaled by non tobacco users may cause health problem.