Campaign for tobacco free Solan district

Deputy Commissioner Solan Manmohan Sharma said that the district administration’s goal is to make Solan a tobacco-free district and to inspire youth to lead drug-free lives. Sharma was chairing a meeting organized by the Health and Family Welfare Department, Solan, under the “Tobacco-Free Youth Campaign-3.0” program.
Manmohan Sharma said that the ‘Tobacco Free Youth Campaign-3.0’ is being implemented in Solan district until December 8, 2025. He said that the objective of this campaign is to increase public awareness about the ill effects of tobacco consumption, as well as to make the youth aware of the ill effects of drug addiction.
The Deputy Commissioner, while instructing members of the district-level task force formed under the Tobacco Free Campaign, stated that smoking in public places is completely prohibited under the COTPA (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003. He added that there is also a ban on advertising tobacco products, a ban on the sale of tobacco products to minors, and a ban on the sale of tobacco products within 100 meters of educational institutions. These must be strictly enforced.
He said that swift legal action should be taken against violations of the Act to curb drug abuse. To this end, task forces should periodically conduct surprise inspections of hotels, public places, and sensitive locations, and issue challans.
Chief Medical Officer, Solan, Dr. Ajay Pathak, conducted the meeting. He informed that a tobacco-free campaign is being implemented by December 8, 2025, in collaboration with various educational institutions, urban local bodies, Panchayati Raj institutions, and all other administrative institutions. As part of this campaign, various activities are being organized through rallies, street plays, cultural programs, and video dissemination. The objective of these activities is to raise awareness among youth about the ill effects of tobacco and other drugs.
District Tourism Officer Padma Chodan, District Panchayat Officer Jogendra Prakash Rana, District Programme Officer Dr. Gagandeep, District Youth and Sports Officer Bhupendra Verma and officers from various departments were present on the occasion.