Considering the grave scenario of tobacco impact on youth, People's Cultural Centre (PECUC) in cooperation with Coalition for Tobacco Free Odisha (CTFO) organised a mock Youth Parliament on ‘Improving Public Health by Reducing Tobacco Use’ featuring 80 young participants from all corners of the State.
Rajya Sabha MPs Amar Patnaik and Sulata Deo, Bhubaneswar MLA Anant Narayana Jena along with other dignitaries including advocate, Supreme Court Ranjit Singh and State Consultant to Directorate of Public Health, Tobacco Control, Dr GS Mishra and CTFK Anup Mishra graced the occasion.
PECUC secretary Ranjan Kumar Mohanty, chairperson Minakshi Panda and executive director Anuradha Mohanty coordinated the programme.
"Tobacco use poses a grave threat to the health and well-being of our youth, and it's crucial that we take concrete steps to protect them from this harmful addiction. This initiative is really necessary and commendable to educate the youth through this mock parliament," said MP Patnaik.
Deo said, "We must work together to combat tobacco use among our youth and ensure a brighter and healthier future for them.”
The Youth Parliament while praising the Government for introducing the new rule for display of an anti-smoking warning on OTT platforms raised issues about how the current COTPA, 2003 law misses out on many aspects when it comes to making public places tobacco free. Hence, the Youth Parliament raised a motion for a COTPA Amendment Bill which will be discussed in the next session.