-APS Noorpuri

Nada Young India Network for Good Health today held the consultations with multiple stakeholders of Haryana to discuss ways in which youth groups and civil society organisations can extend their support for the COTPA Amendment 2020 and in the operationalisation of the State and the National Multi-sectoral Action Plan (NMAP) for the control of tobacco.

“Civil society organisations through RWAs and NGOs must unite to push for the passing of a strong COTPA Law with the amendments which plugs the loopholes. The future of the country is at stake and its a matter of urgency,” said S K Nayar, President of Citizen Welfare Association (Panchkula).

The State-level Multi-Stakeholder consultation was addressed by academicians, government representatives, civil society heads, youth leaders and various NGO heads. The consultation is an initiative to spread awareness about the consumption of tobacco and its impact, especially on the country’s youth.

“Youths of the country are in support of strict rules against the tobacco consumption and the awareness drive will be always guided by the health and safety requirements of the young people. We must seek strict rules against tobacco,” Venkatesan S, State Director of Nehru Yuva Kendra Chandigarh.

As per the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2016-17, 15.5% of people smoke Bidi, 7.6% smoke hookah and 2.6% smoke cigarettes in the