Himachal Pradesh To Launch Tobacco-Free Campaign 4.0 Across Bilaspur

The Himachal Pradesh government is set to launch Tobacco-Free Campaign 4.0 to keep people away from intoxicants and curb the sale and consumption of tobacco products at public places. The campaign will also aim to make urban and rural areas of Bilaspur district, along with educational institutions, tobacco-free.

Chief Medical Officer, Bilaspur, Dr Shashidatt Sharma, provided information about the campaign. He said that keeping people away from intoxicants and checking the sale and use of tobacco products in public places are among the key objectives of Tobacco-Free Campaign 4.0.

Under the campaign, efforts will be made to make the urban and rural areas of Bilaspur district tobacco-free. Educational institutions will also be covered. The government has set a target of ensuring that these institutions remain free from tobacco products and their use.

The briefing noted that tobacco consumption is often seen as the starting point of addiction. A person may begin with tobacco use and gradually come under the grip of other intoxicants. Keeping this in mind, the campaign will focus on preventing the sale and consumption of tobacco products at public places.

The sale of tobacco products in the open at shops will also be checked. The ban on selling tobacco products around educational institutions will be implemented effectively. Action will also be taken against the open consumption of these products at public places.

The main purpose of the campaign is to protect the younger generation from intoxicants and make people aware of the harmful effects of tobacco. The campaign will include efforts to inform people about the life-threatening damage caused by tobacco consumption.

Dr Shashidatt Sharma said that people would be made aware of the life-threatening harm caused by tobacco use under Tobacco-Free Campaign 4.0. He added that special action would be taken to stop the sale and use of tobacco products at public places.

The Chief Medical Officer said that if any shopkeeper or person is found violating the prescribed rules, strict legal action will be taken against them. The provisions include a challan as well as imprisonment for 2 to 5 years.

Dr Sharma said the state government was continuously working to make urban and rural areas, as well as educational institutions, tobacco-free. He said public participation and awareness were extremely important for this effort.

According to the Chief Medical Officer, society can protect the younger generation from intoxicants only by creating awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco. He said this awareness would also help in achieving the goal of a drug-free society.