Keep yourself away from that butt, says Sharmila

World No Tobacco Day, which is observed on May 31 each year since 1987 brings into notice the ill-effects of tobacco which leads to 5.4 million deaths annually worldwide to tobacco consumers.  Sharmila Mandre, a leading Kannada movie actress shares her views regarding this it. What should people do according to you, to avoid smoking? Well, I think it is a personal decision one has to make. You cannot really force people who smoke to not to do so. They should at least have knowledge about the harm this habit can cause.Do you think people should participate and protests on days like the World No Tobacco Day?It is not possible to organise rallies and protests. They would hardly come as help unless people themselves are motivated to either quit smoking or remain away from it.What harm do you think a smoker can cause to the people around them?People who smoke not only cause harm to themselves but also to people in their surrounding. Passive smoking is something which is equally dangerous as it harms the non-smokers in the same way as it does to the smokers. People who inhale the air near them have same chances of getting affected with lung cancer and other bronchial diseases.Do you have any personal experience to share?I am personally against smoking. Yes, and I do avoid people who smoke in my vicinity as I get choked.What do you think is the most effective way to spread the knowledge on not smoking?People should be encouraged and motivated since the start. Keeping a day specially for this purpose offers a platform for various campaigns to take place.What do you think people should do from today in order to acknowledge the World No Tobacco Day?I think smokers should refrain from smoking at least for the next 48 hours and give it a try. In this way, they can actually look for a start to quit.Are people influenced by others smoking?Smoking is glamorised to which specially the youth fall prey. The tobacco industries rake in huge profits and they sometimes mislead through advertisements. In order to promote their own product, they forget all the ill-effects which it can cause to its consumers.What message would you like to deliver to everyone regarding this issue?Well, I would  just like to say these few lines for smokers :  ‘Having one cigarette reduces one day from your life. In order to remain healthy and to lead a healthy lifestyle, one should not consume tobacco products.'