The Punjab government will observe November 1 as 'No Tobacco Day' in an effort to discourage tobacco use in the State.
"In our endeavour to get rid of tobacco, November 1 will be observed as No Tobacco Day all over Punjab. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has issued directions to all the Deputy Commissioners in this regard," said the state Health Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani on Monday.
He said that the state government is committed towards better health of the people of the state. "The concerted efforts of Punjab government got due recognition with WHO World No Tobacco Day award. Good practices of Punjab Government in tobacco or nicotine control re highly appreciated and are now being followed in some other states too," he said.
The state Principal Secretary (Health) Vini Mahajan said that the aim of this campaign is to reduce prevalence of tobacco or nicotine use in Punjab in order to reduce prevalence of non-communicable diseases. "Through this, our aim is also to enhance public awareness about preventing various non-communicable diseases like cancer and cardiovascular diseases by pledging not to use tobacco, nicotine, scented, processed or flavoured chewable tobacco products," she said.