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Children sing paeans to tobacco-free village

By Pankaj borthakur

JORHAT, Jan 6 � With chorus on their lips and pride in their hearts, 10 schoolgoing children of Sahpuria village captured the attention of several visitors as they sang paeans to their own village at a programme at the ongoing Asom Mohotsab here today as their rural abode was certified by the local administration as the first tobacco-free village within the district.

Along with the officials of the district tobacco control cell, a journalist of the village named Ramen Saikia along with some members of the local Mahila Samiti relentlessly carried out the aforementioned anti-tobacco campaign since the past several years following which most of the villagers discarded the harmful habit of smoking and chewing tobacco.

Saikia�s singular contribution to the anti-tobacco campaign came in for special praise by the officials and dignitaries as he set an example by fighting the menace of tobacco consumption, thereby setting an example of a better future in other villages within the district.

As the district tobacco control cell organised an open discussion at the Asom Mohotsav premises, several Government officials, police personnel and anti-tobacco campaigners shared their views on ways to prevent consumption of tobacco products across the city and its adjoining areas.

Dignitaries applauded the activities of Dr Bhaktimay Bhattacharya, nodal officer of Jorhat District Tobacco Control Cell (DTCC) as he consistently launched intensive campaigns across the district. Hundreds of people were penalised since 2011 within the city for violation of Section 4 of the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products (prohibition of advertisement and regulation of trade and commerce, production, supply and distribution) Act (COTPA).

Further, the district cell also took major steps for making the schools and colleges tobacco-free institutions, besides carrying out similar activities in hundreds of private offices and market places across the city.

Many schools were provided financial aid by the DTCC today for inspiring their students for publishing their writings about the hazardous effects of tobacco vide wall magazines of the schools concerned. Heads of Karanga Girls� Higher Secondary School, Seni Amguri High School and many others were handed over cheques by the officials for the aforementioned wall magazines.

Attending the programme, the Officer Incharge of Jorhat Police Station Pradip Bora said that they had arrested many people across the city for selling tobacco products even after the official ban was imposed. He promised of continuing relentless action for preventing tobacco consumption and abuse in the localities.

Inspector of Schools, Hiren Gogoi said he will leave no stone unturned to continue with the anti-tobacco campaign in the schools of the district. Noted writer Dr Malini applauded the anti-tobacco campaign in the district and suggested Dr Bhattacharya to intensify the awareness campaign in rural areas through the popular medium of streetplays and other similar initiatives.

The meeting was attended by several dignitaries of the city and its adjoining areas, including Teok, besides activists of various voluntary organisations and colleges which had been taking active part in the anti-tobacco campaign for years together.

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