Gautam Buddh Nagar administration to rope in schools, colleges for anti-tobacco awareness

The Gautam Buddh Nagar administration decided today to rope in educational institutes to spread awareness against gutkha and other tobacco products besides stepping up action on smokers in public places.

At a meeting of various committees of the District Tobacco Programme, District Magistrate Brajesh Narayan Singh issued instructions to all officials concerned to ensure effective implementation of the state government's policies on tobacco control, according to an official statement.

"There should be a campaign to raise awareness among those consuming tobacco about its ill effects on health. They should be informed in detail about diseases that can contract because of tobacco," Singh said.

Posters should be placed and pamphlets distributed at public places such as court premises, offices, police stations so that more people could be made aware of it, he said.

"Also penalty should be imposed and due action taken against people found smoking in public spaces," the district magistrate told the officials.

He asked officials of the committees to contact all educational institutes in the district, including schools, colleges and universities, for awareness among students.

"Mostly the labour class, factory workers, slum dwellers, students and the youth are vulnerable to consuming tobacco and gutkha. Hence there is a need to make them aware of its ill consequences," Singh said.