Efforts to curb tobacco use among young people took center stage in Pherzawl on Thursday as the District Health Society launched the Tobacco-Free Youth Campaign 3.0 at Parbung. The campaign, part of the Sardar@150 initiative, aims to strengthen anti-tobacco awareness in schools and communities.
Students and teachers gathered to pledge against tobacco use and participated in a rally advocating a tobacco-free lifestyle. The programme also included the distribution of wall posters on Tobacco-Free Educational Institution norms, COTPA-2003, PECA-2019, and other anti-tobacco regulations.
Mid-programme remarks stressed the importance of student leadership in building healthier communities and encouraged schools to work toward achieving Tobacco-Free Educational Institution status. Village leaders were urged to support efforts to make localities tobacco-free zones.
The launch concluded with an enforcement drive alongside police personnel to remove tobacco products being sold within 100 yards of school premises — in line with national tobacco-control laws.
