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Pandu College - first Tobacco-free zone college in the North-east


‘Awareness’, Forum for legal and health awareness, a Non-Governmental Organization, celebrated World No-tobacco Day on May 31st last. The Forum with the support of LG Electronics India Ltd, Guwahati, organized and Anti-tobacco awareness campaign at Pandu College of the city as part of celebrations. Booklets having pictorials of health hazards of tobacco consumption and ill effects of tobacco consumption in any form were distributed among the participants of the campaign. Slide show presentation and slogan writing competitions were among the programmes that had been organized in the said campaign. NSS, Pandu College unit associated with the said campaign. The Forum awarded Pandu College in recognition of being the first tobacco free zone college in the North Eastern region.


The programme was presided over by Dr S Choudhury, Principal of the college. The event was graced by distinguished guests, Dr S M Bhagawaty In-charge of the Tobacco Cessation Clinic, Dr B Baruah Cancer & Research Institute, Dr Bhaben Choudhury, Chief Consultant of Tobacco Cessation Clinic, Sanjivani Hospital, Guwahati, Sailen Medhi, Advocate, Gauhati High Court, Nava Thakuria, Secretary, Guwahati Press Club and many others, who made an appeal to all the participants in the campaign to refrain from the tobacco use.


The conveners informed that about 10,000 leaflets in the form of an open letter were distributed appealing the smokers to respect the rights of the non-smokers to live in a smoke free environment.


The Forum began the day with pestering their slogan ‘Aamar Sapon Dhapat Mukta Asom’ on the bus and ended its campaign with on road motor vehicle anti-tobacco poster exhibition and leaflets distribution throughout the city.


The Forum has appealed to the government and the NGOs to hold more of such college and school based anti-tobacco awareness programmes in the state to prevent the youth from initiating tobacco habit. It also urged the law enforcing authorities to implement the provisions of Indian Tobacco Control Act 2003 strictly.


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