May 30, 2010  

      World No Tobacco Day is observed the world over on 31st May every year to make people aware of the health problems caused by tobacco abuse. The Day is aimed at exhorting smokers to give up smoking. Each year World No Tobacco Day focuses on a specific theme and the theme for World No Tobacco Day 2010 is 'Gender and Tobacco with an Emphasis on Marketing to Women’.

The H.P. Prohibition of Smoking and non-smoker’s Health Protection Act 1997 is being implemented in Himachal Pradesh under which smoking is prohibited in public places and all advertisements showing tobacco products is banned in the State. An aggressive social awareness campaign is also being organised with the combined efforts of Government, general public alongwith active participation of panchayats, mahila and yuvak mandals, students and NGOs to root out the menace of intoxicants from the society. Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi said that healthy society leads to overall development of the nation and evils like intoxication and drug abuse need to be totally eradicated. 'Nasha Nivaran campaign' being implemented by Information and Public Relations Department has been instrumental in creating awareness amongst the masses.

            World No Tobacco Day has been observed each year since 1989. People, governments and NGO's unite on World No Tobacco Day to draw attention to the health problems that tobacco use can cause. On May 15, 1987, the World Health Organization passed resolution, calling for April 7, 1988, to be the first World No Smoking Day. This date was chosen because it was the 50th anniversary of the World Health Organization. On May 17, 1989, the World Health Organization passed a resolution calling for May 31 to be annually known as World No Tobacco Day. According to World Health Organization, global smoking rates are rising as the tobacco industry increasingly targets females through its campaigns.

The State Government is taking many stringent steps and conducts a number of sensitization workshops and awareness campaigns to do away with tobacco products. Direct and indirect publicity of tobacco products attract penal fines up to Rs 5000, which can extend to imprisonment from 2 to 5 years.

Sale of tobacco products to minors is forbidden, as was its sale within a radius of 100 yards from any educational institution. Printing of statutory warning on tobacco products has been made mandatory, failing which a fine ranging between Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 10,000 is imposed with imprisonment from one to five years.

The State Government has constituted a state level coordination and monitoring committee and district level committees to monitor the ban on smoking in public places.

World No Tobacco Day aims to aware individuals, parents and concerned groups by informing them about the harmful effects of the tobacco. Adults could set an example for the youth by setting a goal for a healthier lifestyle. Unfortunately, there are still some adult smokers who aren't deterred even by lung cancer or mouth and their smoking habit continues unabated.  The parents should educate their children about the ill effects tobacco abuse entails. Let us pledge on this day not to smoke and persuade others to quit this fatal habit so that a healthy and drug free society could be materialized.