The Hidden Cost of Smoking: Sreelakshmi’s Changemaker Journey

This story was written by Sreelakshmi and edited for length and clarity. 

I am Sreelakshmi V from Kerala. I was born in India, but I grew up in the UAE. I had an enriching exposure to diverse cultures and individuals from numerous spheres of society. These experiences have shaped my personality and instilled in me the determination to take action.

As a middle school student, I attended a seminar on Cancer. This was an epiphany for me. During the seminar, I heard stories about people who had lost their lives because of smoking, but many more because of passive smoking. I realized the gravity of something that many consider a “stress-breaker.” The first question that arose was, “Why is there no law to ban tobacco products?” Upon researching, I understood that tobacco, especially cigarettes, contributes majorly to tax revenue; this led to further reflection, that demand leads to supply. Adding to this is the mindset of people who would not quit until faced with a serious health issue.

I talked to a few of my friends who shared a similar outlook, and thus Quit To Care (QTC) was born, on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day. Our motive is to see the world safe from the clutches of tobacco addiction. The first step for QTC was to understand the mindset of the public- both smokers, their families, and non-smokers regarding this issue. We began by conducting surveys and distributing pamphlets in many places across UAE, starting from a leading hypermarket. The surveys helped us in getting ground knowledge. We found many people wanted to quit smoking and had even tried at a point in their life but relapsed because of some reasons. Hence, we conducted studies and approached experts on ways to help people quit smoking. Through awareness sessions in schools and summer camps, QTC has been educating the youth about how tobacco affects daily life and long-term health, why it is necessary to never start smoking, as it is difficult to quit later in life.

A feature about QTC under the column ‘Heroes of UAE’ in a national daily gave us more reach. Various media and FM stations came forward to support us. I got calls from many multinational corporations (MNCs) like the Ramada Group of Hotels and the Keller Group to address their workers. These organizations have been key supporters of QTC.

Almost a year after coming back to India, I met with the District Collector of Kozhikode, Kerala and wrote to him about the activities of QTC and how it is necessary in Kozhikode as well. After a series of meetings involving officials from various departments, we launched QTC as a district-wide campaign, with the motive to make Kozhikode a smoking-free district. This campaign spanned multiple divisions of government, involving the National Health Mission, Indian Medical Association, Excise Department, and the Education Department.

QTC now has a strength of 5,420 selected student volunteers, a nodal teacher from each school, and a well-equipped team of social workers, medical personnel, and healthcare experts. There are QTC clubs within schools, and they conduct awareness classes for students to increase their morale to reject tobacco. Trained student volunteers identify individuals who wish to quit smoking and aid them in their journeys. Their support and commitment have been pivotal in creating a positive change in society. The principal focus of the initiative is that nobody is forced to quit. Instead, the student volunteers, with the help of counselors and doctors, will assist people who come forward voluntarily and express keenness to get rid of their smoking habits.

Some hurdles and setbacks came along the way. While many people were more than willing to quit and were just looking for an opportunity; it was hard to get the message to some. It was also difficult, because, unlike alcohol, smoking was not something that people viewed with much aversion in the UAE. And adding to this was the fact that we were all “just teenagers.” Sometimes, the team felt down for not being able to convince someone; nevertheless, the gratitude of many people who have benefited from QTC has been a big motivation for us to move forward. 

Being an academically oriented student, there were times I lost myself; art being my only relief. Through QTC I discovered the joy that serving society gave me. No matter how small or big, the feeling of bringing a difference is indescribable.

A world where everyone is a changemaker would have solutions to every problem. Through my co-leading idea, I want to foster driven youth and give them an all-encompassing experience of learning, leading, and growing. I seek to make students and parents aware that being a change-maker doesn’t interfere with academics but provides holistic development to youth. It is time that we stop asking for something to change or waiting for someone to do it. Instead, we should step up and take action.