Awareness activities will be organised till December 8
400 educational institutions and 30 villages will become tobacco free.
Chamba, October 9
Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Repaswal today launched the Tobacco Free Youth Campaign 3.0 at the district level from the conference room of the Deputy Commissioner’s office.
During this period, under the aegis of Chamba Police, he also launched the Saksham campaign to provide information and awareness about the ill effects of drug and intoxicant use.
Mukesh Repaswal said that under Tobacco Free Youth Campaign 3.0, 30 pre-selected awareness activities will be organised in the district till December 8.
He said that during this period, the target has been set to make 400 different educational institutions and 30 villages of the district tobacco free.
Mukesh Repaswal conducted a detailed review of the action plan prepared by the Health Department for the successful implementation of the campaign and provided necessary guidelines to all concerned departmental officers. He directed the Additional Superintendent of Police to organize activities under the Saksham Campaign jointly with the Tobacco-Free Youth Campaign.
He also directed the concerned departmental officials to ensure the availability of the COTPA Act, tobacco-free educational institutions, tobacco vendor licenses, etc. He also directed the operationalization of flying squads in all development blocks.
The Deputy Commissioner also directed that all government offices be made completely tobacco-free and that fines be issued against violators. Furthermore, disciplinary action should be taken against departmental employees under the CCS Conduct Rules.
During this, Mukesh Repaswal also gave necessary guidelines regarding the role and responsibility of the officers of Health and Family Welfare Department, Police Department, AYUSH Department, Excise and Taxation, Education Department, Panchayati Raj and Rural Development, Urban Development Department, Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Youth Services and Sports Department under the campaign.
During this, Additional Superintendent of Police Hitesh Lakhanpal also shared information about the various activities being organised under the Saksham Abhiyan to create awareness and information about the ill effects of the use of drugs and intoxicants.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Vipin Thakur delivered the welcome address and District Program Officer-Health Dr. Karan Hitaishi provided detailed information regarding Tobacco Free Youth Campaign 3.0 through a PowerPoint presentation.
Additional District Magistrate Amit Mehra, Principal Medical College Dr. Pankaj Gupta, Deputy Director School Education Vikas Mahajan, Medical Officer Dr. Kavita Mahajan, Divisional Manager HRTC Shugal Singh, District Youth Services and Sports Officer Rupesh Kumar, District Panchayat Officer Tilak Raj and various departmental officers were present on this occasion.
It is noteworthy that more than 3,000 Indians die every day due to tobacco use. Out of every 100 cancer patients in India, 40 die from tobacco use. 95 percent of oral cancers occur in tobacco users.
