Law goes up in smoke

In spite of a law about proximity of cigarette shops to colleges, most people don’t care

Susheel W Karkada

While research may say that 24 per cent of all people who smoke will die of a smoking-related disease, Vinay K, a student of MSRIT says with youthful practicality that there is still a 70 per cent chance that you won’t. Having picked up the habit when he was in class 12, he says, “Smoking is more like a transition act when boys become men and it was a cool thing to do in school.”

If you see the number of students smoking, you just might think that cigarette companies make their biggest profit from this age group. The fact that you find the little paan-beedi shop so close to colleges (in some cases, even inside the compound) doesn’t help in reducing the addiction.

“It’s common for students to go out for a smoke during a short break,” says Ramkishen B, studying in MSRIT. When asked if there was enough time for the students to go and come back, he says, “Time is not the problem when the shop is right inside the college.”

According to the law, there should be no shops selling cigarettes within 100 metres of an educational institute. It seems that many don’t know about this law and those who do, don’t really care.

Nikhil V, studying in BITS, says, “Even though there is a cigarette shop right opposite my college, it hasn’t influenced me to take up smoking. The shops don’t force you to smoke, but can be a temptation for those who are already in the habit.”

It’s not just one or two colleges in Bangalore that have cigarette shops next to them. If you do a look-see, you’ll find all colleges, big or small, private or aided, have these shops close to them in open violation of the law.

Kishore R K, a student of HKBK, says, “I took up smoking during my second semester exams in a shop next to my college.” Quiz him on his reasons and he gives you an answer most kids can hide behind — exam tension.

It’s not just boys who are used to puffing away. A large number of girls too enjoy the dangerous pleasures of the cigarette. “A lot of girls smoke,” says Melanie D’Sa, a student of Mount Carmel College, adding that there are a large number in her college itself. “For me, smoking is usually associated with men and to do something like that gives me an empowered feeling,” she says. She also concedes that sometimes it can be peer pressure.

As far as shopkeepers are concerned, they are very clear that it’s just business as usual and they are not the students’ conscience keepers. We told a shopkeeper about the law, seeing that his shop was so close to a college. His reply was, “Students are my main customers and if I don’t sell what they want, they’ll find another shop to go to.”

Mummy speak

Parents, who set the biggest example for children, have far more important issues to think about than cigarette shops near colleges. For them, their child getting into a good college is of the greatest importance. A parent, Sundari E K says, “Getting a seat in a college itself is a tough job. We can’t be choosy over these issues,” referring to the closeness of these shops to colleges.

The principal of a college in the city says, “These students are young adults, they know how to say ‘no’. We can’t dictate terms outside our premises, but we can request the government to take strict action against such shops.”

(Some names have been changed to protect privacy).

All in a day’s work

A peek into the lives of vendors both young and old at KR Market bus stand

SUSHEEL W KARKADA

Vijay Kumar R was doing his BA in Sahyadri College in Shimoga two years ago. Today, he sells samosas at the KR Market bus stand. “I had to discontinue my studies and come to Bangalore in
search of work two years ago,” he says. Vijay Kumar is not alone. The 20-30 vendors who make a living in KR Market bus stand have similar stories.
“I come here around 7.30 in the morning and stay till 10.30 at night,” he says. His best customers are women. “They buy more than men,” he says. As for problems, “There are no problems from drivers or conductors. I just have to give Rs 15 to three policemen here.” If you travel from City Market, it is hard to miss the number of vendors who enter buses to sell
you their wares.

Kahlil P has been working in KR market for the past five months. “In summer, I sell ice candy and in the cold season, I sell chips,” he says. The best time for business, says this enterprising
vendor, is after 4 pm when there are more women. His academic story is another sad one. “I wanted to complete my education, but due to family problems, I had to give it up,” he says. He makes about Rs 150 to 200 on a good day, which means a lot to his family’s tight kitty.
What is sold in KR market is limited only by what your money can buy. Chips, coffee, ice candy, peanuts, pins, locks, books, newspapers are among the many goodies on offer. What makes KR market attractive to vendors is the cost. “Mamool is less here. If we go to Majestic, we have to pay the cops about Rs 200 per day,” says S Hussein, who dropped out of school to earn money five months ago.
With so many vendors, is competition fierce? “No. I just take another bus when I see someone selling the same items,” says Hussein.
One can only imagine the kind of confusion it creates when vendors jump in and out of already crowded buses. BMTC bus driver Anil Kumar says, “Traffic jams are a bigger problem for us. These people work for their livelihood just like us. They don’t bother us.” Commuters feel the same way. Naveen J, a BMTC commuter says, “I don’t usually buy food from them. But if it is a long journey, then I buy some popcorn.”
Almost all the young vendors said they would not want to be doing this work for more than a year, whereas the older vendors were more than happy with their work.

Art of chit making

SUSHEEL W KARKADA

Ever since exams were invented, students have been finding innovative ways to cheat. Some have succeeded and are in high posts; othershave seen the ugly side ofcheating and paid the price;whereas for a few, it gives a high and a huge sense ofachievement. Of all the methods available to cheat,one of the oldest and most common is the chit (also known as bits). Chits are very small pieces of paper about 1/6th the size of an A4paper, filled with enough condensed information to fill the entire answer sheet!

Not everyone can make these chits because what one writes must not only be extremely small but also clearly legible. Some chit makers call themselves artists, others say they are talented, but the truth is that they are all cheaters!

MODERN CHIT-MAKING
Thanks to modern technology, anyone can make a chit. All you have to do is go to a photocopy shop and ask for a “micro-xerox”. Hey presto, your chit is ready! This is so popular that some shops have small-sized paper to save you the trouble of cutting up A4 sheets! A student studying in a popular engineering college says, “I only micro-photocopy chits for the internals, it is too risky for the externals.”
Students say photocopied chits are easier to understand, and can be passed around to anyone in need. In case of trouble, it can be thrown away and there is no risk of getting caught as
handwriting can be easily identified.
And the businessmen know this too! While A4 sheets cost 30 paise per copy near colleges, micro-copies cost Re 1, even though they use lesser amount of ink. “We know what they use
for, and they don’t seem to have a problem about paying a little more,” says a photocopy shop owner. Another shop owner says, “Some students actually micro-copy entire chapters and it is becoming a common trend.”

USING THE CHITS
Once the chits are made, the task is to hide them. These chits have to be hidden in places which are normally not checked but are also easily accessible. “Making the chits is the easy part! Using them is difficult!” says another student.

Chit-making has become a dying art with few takers. And if you decide to get something micro-copied for your exams after reading this, get ready to face the consequences as well! Cheating is like an addiction, once you start it is difficult to stop. And if you are found cheating in an exam, you could ruin your education, so it’s not worth it at all.

But if you are still foolish (or desperate) enough to go to all this trouble, you need luck on your side to get away with it! Anyway, that’s a different story.