The Sunday Times. March 5, 2002
You won't go a long way baby, city's celebrity anti-smoking brigade cautions the young'
- Sameera Khan

Bombay Times. March 26, 2002
'I don't want anyone to go through that pain'
- Hope Beach / Vivek Kamath

Afternoon. March 27, 2002.
HIGH DRAMA

The Asian Age. March 30, 2002
The Last Word Chalu Prasad will help fight tobacco
- Sameena Razzaq

New Woman. May 1, 2002
Longest Running Children's Play

New Woman. May, 2002
NO CHILD's PLAY

Bombay Times. July 20, 2002
‘I couldn't stop smiling when gutkha was banned'
- Sharmishtha Chaterjee

The New York Times. August 13, 2002
Sweet but Deadly Addiction Is Seizing the Young in India
- Amy Waldman

Education UK (A publication by the British Council). November 2002
Making a difference-meet Padmini Somani, Director, Salaam Bombay Foundation
- Sayed Sameer Abedi

The Times of India. November 28, 2002
The brown signs of a black future
- Namita Devidayal

The Indian Express. January 24, 2003
Mumbai Newsline

The Hindu Business Line. January 28, 2003.
Mumbai Newsline
- A Srinivas

Bombay Times January 28, 2003.
Rahul ‘The Wall' Dravid visited Tendulkar's yesterday, where he attended a Salaam Bombay Foundation function to launch the Wall of Fame lauding the gutkha ban in Maharashtra .

Afternoon. January 28, 2003.
‘The Wall' of fame
- A staff Reporter

Midday. January 28, 2003
Wall of fame
- Sayed Sameer Abedi

Cricketer Rahul Dravid unveiled the Wall Of Fame at Tendulkar’s restaurant at Colaba, yesterday afternoon.

The Salaam Bombay Foundation, an educational NGO for the children of Mumbai, in association with the state government, has launched the Wall Of Fame at Tendulkar’s to celebrate the ban on gutkha. They have developed a symbol- the smiling flower- that celebrates Maharashtra’s status as a gutkha-free state. Those who have signed their support in The Wall include Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh, Kareena Kapoor, Fardeen Khan and Vijay Mallya. This Wall Of Fame will be at Tendulkar’s till February 4 and later travel to other restaurants in the city.

Spotted at the event were lensman Atul Kasbekar, Dr. Muffazal Lakdawala (Aditi Govitrikar’s Hubby) and Gerson da Cunha besides Padmini Somani of the Salaam Bombay Foundation. Dravid did not stay on for the lunch, we did. Highly recommended is the sinful chocolate mousse

Afternoon.February 21, 2006
This war won't go up in smoke
- Staff Reporter

DNA (Daily News Analysis). February 21, 2006
Kids get down to kicking the butt

Bombay times. February 20, 2006
Kick that butt

Asian Age. November 11, 2005
Mankad teaches cricket to kids
- By a correspondent

DNA (Daily News Analysis). October 26, 2005
Survey Shock: Tobacco gets a child certificate

Hindustan Times. August 26, 2005
Onscreen smoking influences kids: Study
- By a correspondent

Afternoon. June 27, 2005
ABHIJEET SAWANT SPEAKS UP AGAINST TOBACCO
Lends support to the Salaam Bombay Foundation
- Staff Reporter

Bombay Times. Times of India. June 20, 2005
Stub the habit
India's Latest idol, Abhijeet Sawant, says smoking is like staring death in the face

News Line. Indian Express. June 1, 2005
These Kinds say no to tobacco
Salaam Bombay Foundation organizes awareness campaign for students
- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

Nationwide International News. The Pakistan Newswire: Health. March 15, 2005
(“CHALIA CHEWING” RISING FACIAL CANCER IN MALE POPULATION OF ASIAN REGION)

Times of India. March 04, 2005
Total smoking time on screen in 4 recent movies translates into Rs 11.6 crore in ad revenue, suggests NGO research

Hindutavada. January 06, 2005
Super Army' of kids to smoke out tobacco menace

The Free Press Journal (City Journal). January 6, 2005
Stubbing out the tobacco habit; super Army on a mission

They are people with a difference. They target the young and vulnerable, shoot with scientific truths, grapple the killer menace with bare fats and are out on a mission to liberate the nation from a merciless killer ,the tobacco reports PTI.

Calling themselves the Super Army’ nearly 2023 children of six municipal schools across the city, have plunged into the battle against tobacco thought a project, launched by the Salaam Bombay Foundation’, an NGO working with children.

The project ‘Super Army’ attempts at developing refusal skills’ in children through interactive and informative sessions weaved with scientific facts and some home truths.
Giving details of the project, Padmini Somani director of the foundation said, “Our survey of municipal school children revealed that more that 50 per cent of them consume tobacco, mostly in the form of gutkha. There were instances of children consuming 16 packets of gutkha in a day.”

The number of girls consuming tobacco was close to those consumed by male students. Those found to consuming tobacco were mainly in the 12-15 years, but even some 8 year olds were found to be into the tobacco habit, she said.”

The prevalent chewing tobacco habit back home, the habit of brushing teeth with tobacco powder and lack of information had led to misconception about tobacco. “Many did not perceive anything wrong in consuming tobacco. Some even thought it was some thing like an after lunch mint,” Somani said.

“Some turned to tobacco out of experimentation, some to portray the macho image, some out of influence of adults and others tried to ape the advertisements,” she added.

Press Trust of India. Mumbai, May 31

EXHORATING the Government, NGOs and individuals to make concerted effort to ban cigarette manufacturing in the country, the Maharashtra Governor, Mr. Mohammed Fazzal said on Monday that mere banning of cigarette smoking in public places was not enough.
“Tobacco manufacturing companies must not be allowed to manufacture -cigarette in the country", Mr.Fazal said while speaking on the occasion of ‘World No-Tobacco Day’ function organized by NGO ‘Salaam Bombay Foundation,’ a release said.
Without this, efforts to prevent consumption of tobacco may not succeed,” he added.
Referring to Hindi films, fatal said protagonist in films should not be allowed to smoke screen, as “they are role models for many young children.”
Lauding the work of Salaam Bombay foundation headed by Ms Padmini Somani, which works for children in areas of health and education with an emphasis on creating awareness against consumption of tobacco, the Governor said the anti-tobacco campaign run by the organization should become a national movement.

Afternoon Dispatch & Courier. June 1, 2004

Fazal calls for ban on cigarettes manufacturing

Exhorting the government, NGOs and individuals to make concerted efforts to ban cigarettes manufacturing in the country, Governor Mohammed Fazal yesterday said mere banning cigarettes smoking in public places is not enough.

“Tobacco manufacturing companies must not be allowed to manufacture cigarettes in country,” Fazal said while speaking on the occasion of ‘World No Tobacco Day’ function organized by NGO Salaam Bombay Foundation.

“Without this, efforts to prevent consumption of tobacco may not success,” he added.
Referring to Hindi films, Fazal said protagonist in some of the films should not be allowed to smoke cigarette on screen as “they are role models for many young children.”

Lauding the work of Salaam Bombay Foundation headed by Dr. Padmini Somani, which works for children in areas of health and education with an emphasis on creating awareness against consumption of tobacco, the governor said the anti-tobacco campaign run by the organization should become a national movement.

Speaking on the occasion, well-known dental surgeon Dr.Vivekanand Rege, who has taken the work of creating awareness about the relationship between cancer and tobacco, said oral cancer by tobacco was the biggest killer dieses in the country.

“One person dies of cancer every six seconds in the country,” Rege said adding that oral cancer could be cured even in the second stage of the diseases, provided the person must kick the habit of smoking or consuming tobacco in any form.

Bombay Times. The Times Of India. May 28, 2004
Air India Bldg says no to tobacco!

“Tobacco is injurious to health’-one may have seen this message on tobacco products umpteen numbers of times. But there’s still a lack of awareness as far as tobacco is concerned. That’s why; the entire Air India buildings will flash such messages from today to May 31 (World No Tobacco Day), to crate more awareness among people.

The anti-tobacco messages will be displayed thought a new age Art Project Technology on the entire façade of the Air India building that will be converted into a canvas with vibrant colours.

The campaign is the idea of non-government organization (NGO) Salaam Bombay Foundation that is involved in education and inculcation a positive attitude amongst children.
Padmini Somani, founder of the NGO, explained, “The presentation will be displayed on the building on the building every evening form 8 pm to10pm for four days. The ides is to sensitise people.” There has also been a month-long radio campaign-Voice Against Tobacco that began on May 5

Through this, the listeners heard facts on the Tobacco problem, interacted with tobacco experts and participated in a citywide anti tobacco slogan contest,” said Somani.

The radio campaign received support from prominent citizens and celebrities including actors Juhi Chawla and Tusshar Kapoor, designer Manish Malhotra, environmentalist Bittu Sehgal, industrialist Harsh Goenka, former police commissioner Satish Sahney and Excise Minister Anil Deshmukh.

Each of then gave their voice and thoughts on the subject,” she said. The best slogan of the Voices Again Tobacco Contest will be flashed on the Air India Building façade, on the world no Tobacco Day, she added.

Bombay Times. Times of India. March 26, 2004
Ban on gutkha, but what about ads? Study reveals high recall of gutkha ads amongst kids

The two year gutkha ban in the state gas not diminished the demand for the tobacco products. The reason – the ban does not cover its advertising, which has retained the gutkha on the minds of youngsters. And now, a study conducted by city based NGO Salaam Bombay Foundation exposes the stronghold of tobacco advertising on the mind of Mumbai teenagers.

Titled Cancer of the Mind, the study questioned 3,260 children between the age group of 12 to 17 years from 15 municipal and private school to assess the recall of tobacco advertising amongst them. The findings were revealing__77 per cent recalled a gutkha / pan masala advertisement, 17 per cent recalled a cigarette ad.

Again over 70 per cent actually recalled the slogan of the ad like Manikchand gutkha. Incidentally, boys recalled more brands (33 per cent) then girls (23 per cent).Television had the highest on the children in remembering the ads. 81 per cent of the respondents watched them on TV, 9 per cent on radio and only 6 per cent in newspaper ads.

“Ad industry is only focusing on the cigarette ads. But it is gutkha which is affecting kinds. TV. Others products of a tobacco manufacturing company should not be allowed to carry the same brand and slogan as it reiterates the tobacco imagery,” explains Padmini Somani, director, Salaam Bombay.

COMMERCIAL IMPACT
Piyush Pandey, cerative head, O&M: The Tobacco Bill is a mere legislation, but it has to be implemented in its spirit.

Sam Balsara, President, Advertising Agencies Association of India: I think a strict ban on manufacture and sale is the only solution.

Business India. February 2-15, 2004
Where the heart goes

For someone armed with a Masters in Financial Economics from the London School of Economics, PADMINI SIMANI, decided to go off the beaten track manufacture in the country, which is what Niota Zechariah’s son, Pulpit did.

His 29-year-old daughter decided to follow her heart. “I’ve seen my parents do social service for a very long time. And my father told us that you should always have a large heart, and you will get more than you give,” says Padmini. Two years ago, Padmini started the Salaam Bombay Foundation.

No, it’s got nothing to do with noted filmmaker, Mira Nair’s film of the same name. In fact, after the Mumbai bomb blasts in 1993, Zechariah had initiated the ‘Salaam Bombay - I am proud of it’ campaign and Padmini, then in college got involved in it.

Of course, the campaign seems to have made an impression on her and when she set up a foundation in 2000, Salaam Bombay is what she named it. “It’s personal to me. In a way you are taking care of the city,” she says.

The foundation’s focus on children as “if you can influence the minds of these young people, you can have such a good nation,” says Padmini.