WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY

Heart Care Foundation of India ( ANTIM YATRA ): This was a new health awareness concept field tested by the Foundation where simulated dead body effigy of Mr. & Mrs. Tobacco (dummy names of husband and wives suffering from active & passive effects of tobacco were taken throughout Delhi in a No Tobacco Tableau for days together before finally they were cremated in Lodhi Crematorium. Pamphlets incorporating no tobacco messages were distributed to the public at large. The new health awareness module can be used for creating awareness for banning a particular drug or once a particular disease has been eradicated from the country. The module in this Antim Yatra earmarked Indian Government's banning tobacco smoking in public places.

SIGNATURE PLEDGE: in the year 1999 the foundation used this as a module where all the delegates ere requested to sign a pledge on no smoking in all the functions during a year.

HERBAL COLORS, BIDI, CIGARETTES: the foundation conceptualized the concept of herbal smoke in the year 2000 and regularly promotes the concept of herbal colours during holi festival.

BURNING OF AN EFFIGY: The Foundation for the first time conceptualized the idea that even effigies must be respected. To earmark world no tobacco day on 31st may 2004, the foundation cremated the effigy of Mr. & Mrs. Tobacco at Lodhi Crematorium with all Hindu rites. The last rites were performed by the Foundation president, Dr. K K Aggarwal, City Health Minister Dr. Yoganand Shastri and city Industry Minister, Sh. Mangat Ram Singhal. The concept became a successful media health event and was covered extensively by international electronic media including CNN and the national newspapers.