Teacher on a mission to make state hamlets tobacco addiction-free

Time of India

7 days ago

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Ranchi: In the remote corners of Jharkhand, where awareness campaigns seldom penetrate and addiction quietly takes a heavy toll, one man, a para teacher, has been leading a determined crusade armed with a bicycle fitted with a loudspeaker and a microphone.
Latif Ansari (49), a para teacher from Godda district, transformed personal sorrow into a lifelong mission — pedalling across the state since 2012 to raise his voice against the rising threat of substance abuse. In a heartfelt tribute to his noble cause and showcasing the love of his country, his bicycle proudly bears the Tricolour.
Latif's campaign began over a decade ago, when he noticed some of his young students falling prey to tobacco addiction.
What started as casual use for fun by the students turned into dependence and abuse, leaving a bad impact on their health and academics. Moved by the grief faced by his students, Latif decided not to remain a mute spectator but act, not just as a teacher within the four walls of a classroom, but as a torchbearer for social reforms against substance abuse.
"The sight of my primary school students getting addicted to beedis and other tobacco products has shaken me.
Speaking to their parents, I found that these children were imitating their elders at home. That's when I realised the problem was widespread and not just local.
It was then that I resolved to launch my mission to spread awareness about the harmful effects of addiction, and since then, I have been visiting places, trying my best to de-addict people from tobacco. Till now, I have visited 22 out of 24 districts of the state to spread awareness and stop people from getting addicted to tobacco," Latif said.
Over the past 13 years, Latif has travelled to hundreds of villages across Jharkhand, pedalling hundreds of kilometres every day. Whenever he spots a group gathering — be it playing cards or chatting under a tree — he halts his bicycle and seizes the moment to share hard-hitting facts and real-life stories about the harmful effects of tobacco products from gutkha, khaini to alcohol and other substances.
Although Latif has received mixed reactions from people many often ask for his help to get medicines to get rid of the addiction. State rural development and panchayati raj minister Dipika Pandey Singh hailed Latif's tireless efforts in her recent visit to the district and promised to establish de-addiction centres in Godda district.