Special drive to develop tobacco-free villages

Jalandhar, February 19

In a unique initiative aimed at removing the drug menace from the district, the administration has decided to launch a special campaign for developing tobacco-free villages in the district.

Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma said the basic idea was to ensure that awareness was created among people against drugs through the campaign.

He said: “For the better future of our younger generations, drugs need to be eliminated from villages.

Hence, the Health Department has come up with the noble idea of developing tobacco-free villages with the active support of people.

The DC said village level committees comprising village sarpanch, panch, representatives of Youth Club and Sports Club would be constituted for keeping a check on the sale of tobacco products on the one hand and generating awareness about their harmful effects on the other. Sharma expressed hope that with the active support and cooperation of people this campaign could be turned into a mass movement.

Civil Surgeon Rajesh Kumar Bagga said he had already passed on the relevant directions to SMOs across the district for effective implementation of the drive. — TNS