Campaign for ’Smoke-free village’

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, June 14, 2018: Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) has launched a campaign to make villages under Yekkar, Bajpe and Malavoor Gram Panchayats in its vicinity smoke-free, at a function at its premises on June 13, Wednesday.

 

The programme was inaugurated by Mulki-Moodbidri MLA Umanath Kotian in the presence of MRPL MD M Venkatesh, MLA Mangaluru North Dr Bharath Shetty and others.

MRPL has identified villages under three Gram Panchayats in its surroundings and decided to make them smoke-free. About 132 families belonging in the villages under these panchayats have been distributed with free LPG kits. In addition to these, 161 leftover families in Chelairu, Soorinje, Permude, Jokatte panchayats were also distributed with LPG kits. Earlier in 2016 and 2017, the MRPL had distributed LPG kits to 372 BPL families identified from Bala, Chelairu, Soorinje, Permude and Jokatte.

So far, these families had been using firewood or kerosene as fuel which will be replaced with LPG. MRPL is bearing the cost of the LPG kit as well as the gas stove which is provided to these beneficiaries free of cost under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.

Ganesh Arbi, president Malavoor GP, and Suresh Shetty, president, Yekkar GP declared their respective GPs smoke-free.

Women’s health  :   MLA Umanatwh Kotian thanked the MRPL for taking steps towards fulfilling the dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to turn all the villages of our country smoke-free. This will also help to improve the health of the women folk, he said.

Mangaluru North MLA Dr Bharat Shetty said that the MRPL is doing a great job in helping these families and wished them to continue doing the good work.

MRPL MD M Venkatesh the MRPL has identified 293 families and helped them this year under its CSR programme, and the company is extending this benefit within the framework of government rules and guidelines, he said.