Youngsters demand stricter rules to check tobacco use

Guwahati: Over 300 cyclists participated in a cyclothon in the city demanding tobacco control laws be made stricter on World No Tobacco Day on Tuesday.
The Consumer Legal Protection Forum organized the cyclothon to save lives in collaboration with Consumer VOICE, New Delhi, and in association with the Cycling Association of Assam and the Guwahati Cycling Community.
Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma attended the event to encourage the young cyclists. Abhinash Joshi, principal secretary, health, Debraj Upadhaya, IGP (CID), Dr AC Kataki, director, B Borooah Cancer Institute, Phuleswar Basumatary, deputy commissioner of taxes, Dr Munindra Narayan Baruah, director, North East Cancer Institute & Research Centre flagged off the cyclothon. The dignitaries referred to the recent global youth tobacco survey and said that nearly one fifth of students aged 13-15 years are using tobacco products in India. They also appeal to observe everyday as no Tobacco day.
The cyclothon started from Khanapara and cyclists went up to Ulubari and again came back to Khanapara, raising the demand to implement vendor licensing in Assam and Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products Act amendment.
Several campaigns, events, and activities were organized in and around Guwahati to educate people about the ill effects of tobacco on health. The PQH School of Education and Department of Sociology, University of Science and Technology Meghalaya in association with Indian Dental Association (IDA), Assam Branch and Arohan Foundation organized an orientation programme here today at the university campus on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day today. The orientation was followed by another event of burning of effigy of tobacco products to symbolise anti-smoking.
Ravindra Singh, past president, IDA, emphasised on why tobacco products should be heavily taxed to achieve a tobacco-free society.