President of India Ram Nath Kovind on Monday urged the youths to stop use of e-cigarettes, saying they are becoming popular because of lack of awareness among people about harmful effects of e-cigarettes.
Kovind said that the Centre, 16 State Governments and one Union Territory have banned e-cigarettes because they have very harmful effects on human health, especially on the youth.
The President was addressing students during the 33rd annual convocation of Ranchi University held at convocation ground of the university. The annual convocation was also attended by Governor Droupadi Murmu, Chief Minister Raghubar Das, Education Minister Neera Yadav, Ranchi university VC, RK Pandey, Pro VC Kamini Kumar, university officials, teachers and thousands of students.
Making an appeal to the students, Kovind said, “We all know that tobacco addiction is very harmful for human health leading to various health hazards such as cancer, diabetes, blood pressure, heart disease among others.
Youths, nowadays, are using new form of tobacco through e- cigarettes as they are completely unaware of its danger and for this reason sometimes e-cigarettes sneak into the house out of sheer curiosity.”
The President on the occasion also lauded the role of Raghubar Das Government for banning e-cigarettes. The Jharkhand Government on April this year was the first State to implement ban on e-cigarettes after Government advisory notice.
The President, who was in the role of mentor apart from urging the youths to shun use of e-cigarettes, also asked them to come forward in university social responsibility which is in the lines of corporate social responsibility (CSR).
Kovind said, “The university on the lines of CSR should also introduce university social responsibility (USR), under which five students in the batch should carry out social work for two months in rural areas in health, hygiene and rural development sectors.”
Appreciating university administration for academic atmosphere at the university, he said, “When Governor and Chief Minister invited me as chief guest at annual convocation of Ranchi university, I being the President who also happens to be the visitor of Central universities and other educational institutions of national importance, was reluctant to participate at convocation of state university. But, today I feel that I have not done anything wrong in reaching the institution which is growing academically.”
Referring to Chief Minister he said, “Chief Minister Raghubar Das your State is not only full with natural resources, but it has immense talent poll of human resources.”
The President was happy to know that girls have outshined boys in medal tally. He said, “It makes me glad to know that out of 56 topper students, the girls’ number are 47 which is nearly five times the number of boys.” The President on the occasion also talked the rich alumni of university and great personalities of State.
He said, “Jharkhand is a place of human resources. It is the birth place of Jaipal Singh Munda, captain of hockey team which won gold in the 1928 Olympics, archer Deepika Kumari, Param Vir Chakra awardee late Albert Ekka, Chief Justice MY Iqbal, Mahendra Singh Dhoni whom I met last evening.”
Appreciating Dhoni for his cool temperament and simplicity, the President said in Mahendra Singh Dhoni he saw the future of Jharkhand.
The President, who is known for his simplicity also lamented the traffic disruption during his visit to the State. “Through the media I regret the traffic problem faced by the people. I do not move in any town without reason,” said Kovind.