SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, April 18: Giridih administrative officers today took a pledge against tobacco and directed to make the district tobacco-free with the implementation of the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Product Act (COTPA) 2003.
Additional collector Wilson Bhengra while addressing the first workshop in the district, jointly organized by District Tobacco Cell and the state government’s technical support partner Socio Economic and Educational Development Society (SEEDS), directed the flying squad to remove all tobacco shops from 100 yards of educational institutions and put up signage in government offices declaring tobacco-free.
Wilson Bhengra also directed the tobacco flying squads to conduct regular raids and book on the spot violators of the COTPA Act. “ Tobacco not only damages the health of people but also inflicts economic loss. We could save the life of people and their property by checking the use of tobacco,” he said.
He said for saving the future of the new generation and society from tobacco’s side effects, we would have to launch joint awareness about it.
SEEDS executive director Dipak Mishra on the occasion informed about the anti-tobacco campaign being launched by the government in all 24 districts and informed about different Sections of COTPA. He also informed the officials about the directive issued by the government for checking the tobacco menace.
Mishra suggested running an anti-tobacco programme as a campaign and it would yield positive results in gaining the mission.
Additional collector Bhengra also directed district public relation department to launch anti-tobacco awareness campaign through newspapers, electronic channels and social media.
He also directed Civil Surgeon Dr SP Mishra to review the anti-tobacco programme regularly and submit the report to the Tobacco Cell of the district. All SDMs, all deputy superintendents of police, Tobacco cell nodal officers, all BDOs All CHC medical officers, all police station officers in charge and SEEDS representatives of Ranchi were present.
