Saturday, 28 May 2022 | PNS | Dehradun
More than five lakh people would take a pledge for a tobacco-free Uttarakhand on the occasion of World No Tobacco day on May 31. The mass pledges would be taken in all the government schools, universities, colleges and offices of health and Panchyati Raj department on the day. The Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Admiral (Retd) D K Joshi and chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami would take part in a special programme at Government Doon Medical College on the day.
The health and education minister Dhan Singh Rawat said that the students, staff members and others of all the colleges and Universities would take the pledge for Tobacco Free Uttarakhand at 10 am on May 31. In all the schools of the state, the students and teachers would take pledges after the Morning Prayer in the school assembly.
The minister said that local MLAs and public representatives would also take part in the programme in their respective districts. Rawat said that the director National Health Mission (NHM), Dr Saroj Naithani has been made nodal officer of the state to make the event of mass pledge a success. In the districts the responsibility has been handed over to the Chief Medical Officers (CMO) and the District Panchayati Raj officers (DPRO). The minister said that the employees who have done commendable work in the ‘ Aao Gaon Chalen, Uttarakhand Ko Tobacco Mukt Karen’ programme undertaken under National Tobacco control programme would also be felicitated during the event. He said that as per the data provided by a survey report 26.5 per cent people in Uttarakhand consume tobacco. “We need to reduce this figure by increasing public awareness on the issue only then our dream of a Tobacco free Uttarakhand would be fulfilled. ,’’ he said.
The minister said that the consumption of tobacco provides momentary pleasure but slowly the body is infested by many critical diseases.
