Koolimadu
Encyclopedia
Koolimadu is a village in Kerala
, India
. It is the first tobacco-free village in India
. With the district administration declaring it tobacco-free, smoking has just been banned in this tiny hamlet, people run the risk of being excommunicated for a day if they don't respect the ban. The village is located on the bank of Chaliyar around 3 kilometers away from Mavoor
and 25 miles away from Kozhikode
. It belongs to Chathamangalam
Gram panchayat
.
Koolimadu was declared tobacco free on January 11, 1995, after a year-long campaign that managed to rope in all sections of society.
The spark to ban tobacco was lit in a small local club, Akshara, in early 1994. During a routine meeting, a member lit up a cigar. The others present immediately protested, and with tempers running high, club office-bears slapped a ban on smoking on Akshara premises. Soon, another member suggested, “Why can’t we make the entire village tobacco free?”
That suggestion found many takers in the club, marking the beginning of a novel mission at the village, under the Chathamangalam gram panchayat.
Akshara took the initiative to tell the villagers about the evil s of pan masala and smoking. “We held a door-to-door campaign, distributed pamphlets and roped in doctors to conduct classes,” says club spokesperson Abdul Majeed.
With several middle-aged chain smokers at Koolimadu dying of lung diseases and oral cancer in the early 90s, their call for a ban found many takers. The club members claim they weaned away many who were at a risk of contracting smoking-related diseases.
Soon local traders agreed to join the campaign, Majeed says, and they haven’t looked back since.
However, he admits, the going hasn’t been easy. “We have to guard against the danger of addicts relapsing to their old ways. At the same time, the younger generation has to be checked,” Majeed says. Then there are new visitors who have to be told about Koolimadu’s unofficial ban on tobacco. The bus junction sports several banners and boards telling first-time visitors about the same.
Some results of the blanket ban may be visible on the health front. “Earlier, Koolimadu reported cases of respiratory inflammation, bronchitis and asthma. Due to passive smoking, even children were affected. Now such cases have become rarer,” claims Dr K Alikkutty, a resident of Koolimadu since 1988.
The nearest cities to the village are Kozhikode
, Mavoor
, Chennamangalloor and Kodiyathoor.
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It is the first tobacco-free village in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. With the district administration declaring it tobacco-free, smoking has just been banned in this tiny hamlet, people run the risk of being excommunicated for a day if they don't respect the ban. The village is located on the bank of Chaliyar around 3 kilometers away from Mavoor
Mavoor
Mavoor is the largest village of Kozhikode district in Kerala, India. It is 20 km away from Calicut city.-Etymology:The former name of Mavoor was Pulparambu, or "hayfields" in Malayalam, as grass for thatching houses was stored in this town. .-Grasim:Until the 1960s, Mavoor was like any other...
and 25 miles away from Kozhikode
Kozhikode
Kozhikode During Classical antiquity and the Middle Ages, Kozhikkode was dubbed the "City of Spices" for its role as the major trading point of eastern spices. Kozhikode was once the capital of an independent kingdom of the same name and later of the erstwhile Malabar District...
. It belongs to Chathamangalam
Chathamangalam
Chathamangalam Grama Panchayath is an agricultural village with hills, valley and paddy fields. It is spread over 40.24 sq.km and 22 km east of Kozhikode city. Cherupuzha marks south, west and north boundaries of the village and a part of the east is marked by Iruvazhanhi puzha...
Gram panchayat
Gram panchayat
Gram panchayats are local self-governments at the village or small town level in India. As of 2002 there were about 265,000 gram panchayats in India. The gram panchayat is the foundation of the Panchayat System. A gram panchayat can be set up in villages with minimum population of 300...
.
Koolimadu was declared tobacco free on January 11, 1995, after a year-long campaign that managed to rope in all sections of society.
The spark to ban tobacco was lit in a small local club, Akshara, in early 1994. During a routine meeting, a member lit up a cigar. The others present immediately protested, and with tempers running high, club office-bears slapped a ban on smoking on Akshara premises. Soon, another member suggested, “Why can’t we make the entire village tobacco free?”
That suggestion found many takers in the club, marking the beginning of a novel mission at the village, under the Chathamangalam gram panchayat.
Akshara took the initiative to tell the villagers about the evil s of pan masala and smoking. “We held a door-to-door campaign, distributed pamphlets and roped in doctors to conduct classes,” says club spokesperson Abdul Majeed.
With several middle-aged chain smokers at Koolimadu dying of lung diseases and oral cancer in the early 90s, their call for a ban found many takers. The club members claim they weaned away many who were at a risk of contracting smoking-related diseases.
Soon local traders agreed to join the campaign, Majeed says, and they haven’t looked back since.
However, he admits, the going hasn’t been easy. “We have to guard against the danger of addicts relapsing to their old ways. At the same time, the younger generation has to be checked,” Majeed says. Then there are new visitors who have to be told about Koolimadu’s unofficial ban on tobacco. The bus junction sports several banners and boards telling first-time visitors about the same.
Some results of the blanket ban may be visible on the health front. “Earlier, Koolimadu reported cases of respiratory inflammation, bronchitis and asthma. Due to passive smoking, even children were affected. Now such cases have become rarer,” claims Dr K Alikkutty, a resident of Koolimadu since 1988.
The nearest cities to the village are Kozhikode
Kozhikode
Kozhikode During Classical antiquity and the Middle Ages, Kozhikkode was dubbed the "City of Spices" for its role as the major trading point of eastern spices. Kozhikode was once the capital of an independent kingdom of the same name and later of the erstwhile Malabar District...
, Mavoor
Mavoor
Mavoor is the largest village of Kozhikode district in Kerala, India. It is 20 km away from Calicut city.-Etymology:The former name of Mavoor was Pulparambu, or "hayfields" in Malayalam, as grass for thatching houses was stored in this town. .-Grasim:Until the 1960s, Mavoor was like any other...
, Chennamangalloor and Kodiyathoor.