With women including about 20% of the world's over one billion tobacco users, the health department called for creating alertness among women regarding the dangers of using tobacco.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare joint secretary Jagdish Kaur stated, "The tobacco industry is now focusing on women as it needs to recruit new users to replace the nearly half of current users who will die prematurely from tobacco-related diseases."

Kaur added tobacco use is very high in India, 57% of males and 10.8% of females are smokers.

In addition, 8.4% of preggies in India make use of tobacco and the number is going up.

Sumita Gupta, president of the awareness wing of the Indian Cancer Society, said, "Since the tobacco industry across the globe is targeting women consumers, it is important to create awareness among women about the risks like reduction in fertility, irregularity in menstrual cycle, early menopause, and various types of cancer."

The Indian Cancer Society organized a skit contest 'Gender and Tobacco' on Monday concentrating on the risks associated to smoking in females.

Around 17 schools from New Delhi took part in the contest. (With Inputs from Agencies)