Sahayta Charitable Welfare Society celebrates World No Tobacco day 

Chandigarh: Sahayta Charitable Welfare Society organized an inter school online poster making competition to coincide with World No Tobacco day which is celebrated on May 31 every year. The competition’s theme was the various harmful effects of tobacco including cancer and also spread of the Corona virus. It is noteworthy that Sahayta Charitable Welfare Society, Sec 15, Chandigarh has been working for the welfare of cancer patients and in raising awareness about cancer for the last 23 years.
 
Ajay Tulli, Administrator, Sahayta Charitable Welfare Society said, “Sahayata on May 31 every year creates awareness about harmful effects of tobacco, by holding an annual feature of ‘Declamation competition’ amongst various schools of the tricity, under the theme – ‘Say no to tobacco’. However, due to the COVID 19 pandemic this year an online poster making competition was held instead.”
 
There was a deluge of entries received for the competition in different categories. About 150 entries were from various Government Model Schools, nearly 85 entries were from Private schools of Chandigarh and close to 75 were from schools of Panchkula.
 
The competition was judged by Renu Saigal, President of Sahayta Charitable Welfare Society who is also a cancer survivor, Rashmi Bindra, who is a fashion designer and a volunteer of the Sahayata team & also a cancer survivor, and Mrs. Udesh Puri, a reputed  educationist. The compiling and coordinating of the entries from various schools, which was a major task was done by Rachna Duggal, again a volunteer of Sahayata Society and also a cancer survivor.
 
St. Soldier’s School, Pachkula , supported the event, under the leadership of the school’s Manager, Neera M. Singh.
 
In the government schools category 1st prize was won by  Bishnu Kumari, Class 10, GMSSS, Sec 33, Chandigarh; 2nd prize was bagged by Swati, Class 10, GMSSS , Sec 39 , Chandigarh & 3rd prize went to Meenakshi , of Class 9, GMSSS, Khuda Lahora, Chandigarh. Rashika received a consolation prize.
 
In Chandigarh private schools the 1st prize went jointly to Vardha Verma of Class 9, St. Kabir Public School & Govind, Class 10, Guru Harkishan Model School, 2nd prize was won jointly  by Bhajanpreet Kaur , Guru Harkishan Model School, , the 3rd prize was won by Krishivika , Sacred Heart Sr. Sec School. 
 
 
In the third category of private schools of Panchkula , the joint 1st prize went to Kirti Sharma, 10th Class, DC Model Sr. Secondary School  and  Kajal Sharma, Class 11, DAV Sr. Public School, Surajpur, joint 2nd were Nishtha Sharma of Class 9 Amravati Enclave Vidyalaya and Neha Kumari, Class 10th, New India Sr. Sec. School, the 3rd prize was taken by Pinki Yadav , Class 10,Blue Bird High School and Rishu Dubey, Class 9, of DC Model Sr. Secondary School.
 
Consolation Prizes in this category were given to Mansha Sharma, Class 10 St Soldier’s School and Aditi, Class 9,St Soldier’s School.
 
It was quite a challenging task to judge the entries as amazing efforts had been put in by each and every student, who made meaningful slogans, wishing that the world becomes free of tobacco.
 
Cash awards of Rs 2000, for first prize, Rs 1500 second prize and Rs. 1000 for third prize, and consolation prizes with certificates will be given to various students, to encourage them to participate in socially meaningful activities.