BY TC News Desk
Agartala, May 31, 2023: Food, Transport and Tourism minister Sushanta Chowdhury inaugurated the West Tripura district-level “Anti-Tobacco Day” programme at Agnibina Hall in Jirania on Wednesday as part of “World No Tobacco Day” celebrations.
Speaking at the event, Chowdhury said “Since 1987, the World Health Organization has been celebrating May 31 as World Anti-Tobacco Day to raise anti-tobacco awareness around the world. This year the theme of the day is ‘We want food, not tobacco’. As we all know, the main aim and objective of celebrating the day is to draw attention to the high prevalence of tobacco use and the negative effects of tobacco on health.”
“Smoking is said to be the gateway to drug addiction. By consuming tobacco, the young generation is turning to drugs and becoming a burden to the family and the state. Smoking is the main cause of four major non-communicable diseases among people in our country, including heart disease. These non-communicable diseases can be controlled by quitting smoking. We need a healthy population to build a prosperous country and state.”
“For this purpose awareness against tobacco should be created nationwide. Our country and state have laws to strengthen anti-tobacco promotion from the school level. There are various types of warning wall writing in every educational institution. Sale or consumption of tobacco products is strictly prohibited near various school campuses. There are penalties for breaking that law. But in practice, smokers or tobacco lovers can be seen showing thumbs up in the shops adjacent to the school! It is with regret that I can see cigarettes and other tobacco products at the tip of the nose of various schools! Stopping tobacco use outside the school gates is not only impossible for the teachers, but also impossible for the administration alone. Therefore, the organized resistance of students is necessary. Only then will the purpose be worthwhile. The possibility of the success of ‘No Tobacco’ lies in the cooperation between the administration and the students and teachers”, he added.
He also said “If we can reduce the use of tobacco, the development of public health and national economy will be accelerated. As the standard of living increases, the people of the country are becoming more and more health conscious. If people are made aware of the harmful effects of tobacco, its use will decrease rapidly.”
Chairperson of Jirania Nagar Panchayat Ratan Das, Vice-Chairperson Rita Das, Chairperson of Jirania Panchayat Samiti Manju Das, Vice-Chairperson Pritam Debnath, Chairperson of Ranirbazar Municipal Council Aparna Shukla Das, Vice-Chairperson Pravin Kumar Das, Jirania SDM Shantiranjan Chakma, philanthropist Gouranga Bhowmik, Dr. Debashish Das, Convenor of the program and Chief Health Officer of West District, delivered the welcome address.
