A Girl’s Letter Begging Her Father to Quit Smoking Has Made Her the Face of Rajasthan’s Anti-Tobacco Drive

Sometimes the best person to call out the actions of adults is a child. And one health department in the country is hoping that the voice of a 12-year-old girl will be enough to get millions to stop the use of tobacco in their daily lives. A young girl named Kashish has been made the ambassador of Hanumangarh health department’s anti-tobacco campaign. According to the driving forces behind the campaign, the decision was made after they found an emotional letter that Kashish had written to her father, Ashok Kumar, asking him to quit smoking. In the letter she writes, “I feel papa that when I would be fulfilling your dreams, you won't be with me. I know that those who smoke cigarettes and consume tobacco die early.”

The girl had written the letter in February and the department came into contact with the contents of the note through Kashish's neighbour.

Image for representation. Photo source: Facebook

And now, with the help of Kashish, the department is hoping to reach other children like her to make emotional pleas to their families in a similar fashion to affect change. National Tobacco Control Programme state nodal officer Dr S N Dholpuria spoke to the Times of India, noting that ultimately the young woman’s letter to her father had been successful and hence was the inspiration behind the campaign. He said, “Emotional appeal from Kashish in a letter to her father urging him to quit the habit. If a daughter appeals to her father to quit tobacco, he takes it seriously.”

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It has been reported that the use of tobacco results in the deaths of a million people in India annually. But looks like children are ready to save the day – and their loved ones.

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