Punjab Newsline,Chandigarh :
Punjab leads the country in tobacco control; minister pledges to eradicate tobacco from society
Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh on Tuesday called upon the youth of the state to unite and lead a strong campaign against tobacco, describing them as the builders of a healthy and tobacco-free future. He emphasized that creating awareness to prevent tobacco use is the most effective remedy against the menace.
Presiding over a Youth Conclave titled “Building a Tobacco-Free Generation through Promotion, Adaptation and Implementation of New Initiatives” at Panjab University here, the Health Minister urged students and young leaders to become role models and carry forward the wave of tobacco control from campuses to communities and digital platforms. “Punjab’s real strength lies in its youth. When young people reject tobacco, the future of the state automatically becomes healthier, stronger and more creative,” he said.
The conference was organized by the Generation Savior Association (GSA) in collaboration with the Department of Public Health, Panjab University, Vital Strategies, S.I.P.H.E.R. and RCTC, PGIMER, and witnessed participation from students, experts and civil society leaders.
Dr. Balbir Singh highlighted that tobacco not only harms the human body but also severely affects the human mind, pushing individuals towards mental illness, including suicidal tendencies and other psychological problems. “Tobacco consumption leads not only to addiction but also towards crime. Therefore, all of us must come forward to uproot this social evil and safeguard our society,” he asserted.
Highlighting Punjab’s achievements in tobacco control, the Health Minister said that according to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), tobacco use in Punjab is among the lowest in the country. He attributed this success to the strict enforcement of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), swift action against e-cigarettes, a permanent ban on hookah bars, and the establishment of free tobacco cessation centres in all districts of the state.
“These figures reflect policy success, but the real victory will be when tobacco use becomes socially unacceptable,” Dr. Balbir Singh said, adding that such transformation can only be achieved through aware and empowered youth. He also released a comprehensive study report covering 10 states titled “Youth Perception towards Creating a Tobacco-Free Generation in India”, underlining the importance of youth-centric strategies.
Concluding his address, the Health Minister called for a united front and appealed to every citizen, especially the youth, to pledge to adopt a tobacco-free lifestyle. “Let us all commit ourselves to building a tobacco-free Punjab. Our collective resolve today will shape the health and well-being of future generations,” he said.
The event was attended by RCTC-PGIMER Head Dr. Sonu Goyal; SIPHER Chairman Dr. Rakesh Gupta; Vital Strategies Regional Director Dr. Rana J. Singh; Dr. Meera Aghi; GSA Director Mrs. Opinder Preet Kaur Gill; UPVHA Executive Director Mr. Vivek Awasthi; and MANT’s Mr. Saptarshi Basu Ray.