SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, June 16: The National Health Mission (NHM) has swung into action to make Jharkhand ‘Tobacco Free Youth’, the first state in the country.
In this regard, Mission Director (MD) Dr Bhuvnesh Pratap Singh kicked start a two-day state-level training workshop in IPH Conference Hall in Ranchi on Thursday and directed all concerned authorities to exercise their role in achieving the mission of making the state ‘Tobacco Free Youth’.
For achieving the mission, the Mission Director issued the guidelines for implementation and directed to launch an awareness campaign about the impact of using tobacco, ensure the implementation of the Tobacco Control Act and fine the violators of COTPA 2003.
Director in-chief of Health of state Dr Birendra Prasad Singh, Deputy Directorate of Union Health Ministry L Swasthicharan, National Tobacco Control Programme’s (NTCP) State Nodal Officer Dr Lalit Ranjan Pathak, Dipak Kumar Mishra Executive Director of SEEDS, the technical support partner of Jharkhand government on NTCP, Amit Yadav Senior Technical Consultant of The UNION New Delhi were also present in the programme and suggested how to protect youth and children from tobacco.
“Implementation of Act could be ensured only after proper action is taken against violators. So take action against violators in your respective jurisdiction”, directed mission director Bhuvnesh Pratap Singh to officials.
The mission director also advised the officials to kick start the campaign (Tobacco Free Youth) first from their respective houses and later among friends so that a good message is imparted in society.
Director-in-chief of Health Dr Birendra Prasad Singh while addressing urged the concerned officials to play their role honestly and sincerely in the campaign only then this ambitious mission could be achieved.
L Swasthicharan, Deputy Directorate of Union Health Ministry on the occasion informed about the projects launched by the government of India.
State nodal officer Dr Lalit Ranjan Pathak put up the achievement of Jharkhand in controlling tobacco recently and said that it could be possible with teamwork.
SEEDS executive director Dipak Mishra stressed on protecting youth and children from tobacco. He said in Jharkhand 5.1% of minors between the age group of 13 to 15 years use tobacco and per day 136 minors start using tobacco which is alarming and should be checked.
Puja Gupta, a Government of India consultant informed about the programme and Supreme Court lawyer Ranjit Singh informed about the Act for controlling tobacco.
