Nagaon: “Addiction to substances like drugs often begins with a single packet of gutkha. A boy who starts consuming gutkha may later move on to zarda paan( zarda,betel preparations), bhaang (cannabis), and gradually become addicted to drugs. Therefore, we must keep ourselves away from such habits right from the beginning.” Nagaon District Commissioner Devashish Sharma made this remark while addressing a programme on World No Tobacco Day (World No Tobacco Day Nagaon).
World No Tobacco Day was observed in Nagaon district on Sunday, May 31. The programme was organized by the Nagaon District Administration and the District Tobacco Control Cell, with support from the District Legal Services Authority.
On the occasion, an awareness rally was flagged off by District Commissioner Devashish Sharma from the premises of Nagaon University in the morning.
While inaugurating the rally, Sharma said, “Tobacco has caused immense damage to our society. It often begins with gutkha and later progresses to cigarettes, cannabis, and eventually drug addiction for many people. In this way, a healthy and beautiful society moves towards destruction.”
Highlighting the harmful effects of tobacco, the District Commissioner appealed for collective efforts to curb its use. He administered a pledge to all participants, urging them not only to refrain from consuming tobacco themselves but also to peacefully motivate others to give up the habit. Sharma personally led the rally through the streets of Nagaon town.
Later, at a meeting held in the university auditorium, several speakers addressed the gathering on the harmful effects of tobacco. Among them were Jagat Das, Secretary of the District Legal Services Authority; Dr. Smitakshi Phukan, In-Charge Officer of the District Tobacco Control Cell; Dhruvajyoti Barua, Acting Vice-Chancellor of Nagaon University; Dr. D. J. Bora, Superintendent of the Tezpur Cancer Centre; and Bikash Sharma, District Information and Public Relations Officer.
Dr. Smitakshi Phukan explained various provisions of tobacco-related laws, while Dr. Bora delivered a detailed presentation on cancer through a PowerPoint presentation. Prizes were also distributed to the winners of an essay-writing competition organized among school students to mark the occasion.
Meanwhile, at Chapanala in Nagaon, District Commissioner Devashish Sharma visited a camp organized by the nature-loving group ‘Hati Bondhu’ (Elephant Friends). After trekking up a hill, he interacted with young participants and encouraged anti-tobacco awareness among the new generation.
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