Meet Nada Young India's Member from Punjab: Miss Asmita Duggal

 

Introduction:  Nada Young India is proud to introduce Miss Asmita Duggal, a dedicated volunteer from Punjab, whose relentless efforts have left an indelible mark in the fight against tobacco use in India. Over the past year, Asmita has actively engaged in a multitude of activities aimed at raising awareness, collaborating with Members of Parliament (MPs), conducting school visits, participating in youth forums, and making hospital visits. Here, we present excerpts from her interview with Nada Young Voice Anchor shedding light on her remarkable journey and contributions.

Asmita's Journey with Nada India: In her own words, Asmita shares her journey with Nada India: As a volunteer, it was a great opportunity to work with the foundation. I am from a small town where very few know about social work, but volunteering with the foundation made me proud that I contributed to making changes in society. Nada India's focus on anti-tobacco initiatives was delightful, and I'm honored to be a part of Nada India Foundation.

Challenges in the Field:

Asmita acknowledges the challenges she faced but credits the organization for guiding her through them. She mentions. I faced a lot of challenges, but the organization showed me the right path to tackle all the obstacles in getting the work done. As a team, we gained support from stakeholders in Amritsar.

Assignments with NYIN:  Asmita discusses her assignments with Nada Young India, including local visits to different areas to understand youth preferences for tobacco products. These assignments aimed to gather data for legal actions to prevent youth from using drugs. She highlights the importance of school and university support to influence COTPA amendments and tobacco tax increases.

Nada India's Act on Youth Forum: As part of Nada India, Asmita had the opportunity to be a part of the Act on Youth forum, where she even served as a speaker. She describes the experience as a valuable learning opportunity, equipping her with problem-solving skills.

Tobacco Awareness Campaigns: Asmita actively participated in Nada Young India's tobacco awareness campaigns, which included educational workshops in schools and colleges, public awareness drives, and impactful social media campaigns, all aimed at educating the public about the dangers of tobacco.

Engaging with MPs:  To influence tobacco control policies, Asmita and her team engaged with MPs, including Mr. Gurjeet Aujla. Their efforts included parliamentary meetings and policy advocacy, where they presented evidence-based research to support stricter tobacco control regulations and increased taxation.

Engagement with Schools: Nada Young India's engagement with schools, including Chehrattra School, Amritsar, and Government High School, Amritsar, played a pivotal role in educating young minds about tobacco risks. They conducted interactive workshops and facilitated the creation of anti-tobacco clubs to empower students to lead tobacco-free initiatives.

Engaging with Youths:

Asmita actively engaged with youths through NYIN's youth-led events, collaborating with young activists to create impactful anti-tobacco campaigns. These campaigns utilized social media and other platforms to reach a wider youth audience.

Hospital and Health Center Visits: Asmita and her team visited local hospitals and health centers, training counselors, providing guidance to patients seeking to quit tobacco use, and collaborating with healthcare facilities to develop effective tobacco addiction rehabilitation programs.

Miss Asmita Duggal's journey with Nada India is a testament to the power of dedication and grassroots efforts in combatting tobacco use, and her contributions serve as an inspiration for all those striving to create a healthier, tobacco-free India. We salute her commitment to this vital cause and look forward to more success stories from the Nada Young India network.

*Edited by Syed S. Tauheed