World No Tobacco Day observed in Assam

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: Along with the rest of the globe, World No Tobacco Day was observed on Tuesday in Lakhimpur Commerce College with calls to avoid tobacco consumption and production for the protection of the environment. The day was observed at the district level in the college under the aegis of District Legal Service Authority, Lakhimpur in association with Anti-Narcotics and Drugs Cell, Lakhimpur Commerce College, Mahila Shakti Kendra of District Level Centre for Women under Social Welfare Department, ECM and AE Project (IGSSS-UNICEF).

The observation of the day began with a walkathon by students of the college, DLSA-Lakhimpur, Mahila Shakti Kendra and other participating agencies from the college through the main roads of North Lakhimpur town. This was followed by a street play against tobacco consumption by students of Lakhimpur Commerce College in front of the District Judicial Complex in North Lakhimpur.

Later, a meeting was held at the seminar hall of the college which was chaired by Principal Dr Lohit Hazarika. Secretary of District Legal Service Authority, Lakhimpur Anup Khanal explained the objective of the meeting. Dr Shamiul Akhtar Borborah of Lakhimpur Medical College and Hospital attended the meeting as resource person. In his address, Dr Borborah said that smoking or any other form of tobacco consumption is the gateway of drugs or substance abuse and urged everyone to be aware of it. Speaking on this year's theme of the No Tobacco Day, Dr Borborah also said the environmental impact that the world sustains in growing a single tobacco plant or producing a single cigarette. He asked everyone to quit using all forms of tobacco so that planet earth could be saved from environmental catastrophe. Several short films on dangers of tobacco consumption was screened in that meeting.

SILCHAR: Cachar administration in association with District Tobacco Control Cell organized a rally on Tuesday which was flagged off by Cachar Deputy Commissioner Keerthi Jalli.

Speaking on the occasion, DC Jalli thanked the Health Department and Dr Ibrahim Ali Ahmed for organizing the rally. She appealed to the community to eliminate the bad habit of tobacco use from the society. She said that between the age of 15 to 35, people are very vulnerable and they use tobacco as a means of escape mechanism or as a cool factor or to minimize stress. She urges young people to follow the great personalities and not to use any short cut methods or escape mechanism for achieving success in their life.

"Success and happiness will be there if you continue hard work following right principle and right ethics," Jalli said. She also said that tobacco consumption is no longer a cool factor, fashionable or healthy. Jalli further stated that consumption of tobacco, especially khaini and gutkha, is harmful for heart and lungs. Jalli said that the administration had conducted raids in shops surrounding schools with the help of police and these raids would continue with the support from the society. She urged the young generation to abstain from any types of tobacco products.

Earlier, Padmashree awardee Dr Ravi Kannan said that each day of the year should be a 'No Tobacco Day'. He said that 60 per cent of all cancers in India are due to tobacco and many other dreaded diseases are due to tobacco only. He also talked about tobacco-free educational institutions. "We have to stop tobacco use amongst young people, because once we start taking tobacco, it is very tough to quit tobacco," added Dr Kannan, stated a press release.

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