Quit tobacco & help others quit too, says health minister Satyendar Jain

On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day, AAP Minister Satyendar Jain urged a crowd of 200 people to take a pledge against smoking and tobacco consumption.

Speaking at an event, organised by the Delhi Government's State Tobacco Control Cell in association with the World Health Organization (WHO) at the Central Park in Connaught Place, Jain said, "It is time for us to look down upon smoking and tobacco chewing and regard them as a menace to the society. This will make the people who consume tobacco hesitant about their acts."

Jain, the state health minister, has recently come under fire as the Central Bureau of Intelligence raided his residence and filed a graft case against him, on Wednesday, for allegedly tweaking the recruitments for a PWD creative team.

"Our government has a campaign called 'One for One'. It says that not only should we give up consumption of tobacco at the personal level immediately, but also try to make at least one other person to do the same," explained Jain.

Apart from Jain, the event was graced by few other dignitaries, including Dr. Jagdish Kaur, Regional Advisor of WHO and Dr. S. K. Arora, Additional Director, Health Services, Government of Delhi.

Arora highlighted the harmful effects of tobacco consumption which may lead to a number of fatal diseases.

"The fight against tobacco must be a united one. If we want to save our health as well as our environment, we must put an end to the use of this lethal substance", Arora added.

Several students from different schools across the city also attended the event.

"If our Prime Minister can ban currency notes, he can very well put a ban on tobacco products too. It is an urgent matter as the threat from tobacco to public health and environment is increasing with each passing day," said Prisha Goswami, a ninth-standard student of St. Marks Girls School in Paschim Vihar who performed during the event.

"Personally, I learned about so many aspects related to tobacco consumption and various resultant diseases," said Naim Khan, a visitor.