World No Tobacco Day was observed in Nagaland with a call to the people to adopt tobacco-free lifestyle.
People were also urged to collectively contribute towards making the State tobacco free by the Department of Health and Family Welfare and National Tobacco Control Programme. 60 educational institutions of Dimapur and Kohima and Gariphema village under Kohima district have been awarded for maintaining tobacco free premises.
Minister for Health and Family Welfare, P Longon addressing the gathering assured that the department would continue to invest resources and exercise their influence to protect non-smokers and children from tobacco hazards and also help tobacco users to quit their habit.
He further asked the department of school and higher education to co-operate and actively participate in the fight against tobacco menace and the police to intensify measures to control tobacco abuse in the State.
The minister also urged the stakeholders, various departments, administrative heads, heads of departments and citizens to adopt tobacco-free lifestyles in work places and contribute towards a tobacco-free Nagaland.
Minister for School Education Yitachu urged the citizens to take an extra step to eradicate smoking from the streets, hospitals, schools, government offices, institutions and public places. He called upon children to influence their elders and friends to overcome use of tobacco either in smoke or smokeless forms.
