Governor Launches State-Level Tobacco Free Youth Campaign 3.0 at Raj Bhavan

Governor of Manipur, Shri Ajay Kumar Bhalla, today launched the State Level Tobacco Free Youth Campaign 3.0 at Raj Bhavan, Imphal. The campaign has been organised by the National Health Mission (NHM), Manipur, in association with the Directorate of Health Services under the National Tobacco Control Programme.

During the ceremony, the Governor led the gathering in taking a pledge to abstain from the use of tobacco products. Commissioner (Health) Sumant Singh, along with the Directors of Family Welfare and IPR, attended the event. Officers from various departments, including Social Welfare, Information Technology, Home, and Police, were also present.

The 60-day campaign will focus on six key objectives — raising public awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco; enhancing Tobacco Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) compliance; striving for Tobacco Free Villages; strengthening enforcement of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, and the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA), 2019; amplifying social media engagement; and promoting capacity building.

The campaign will also be replicated across all districts of the state. After the launch, Governor Bhalla directed officials to ensure that the campaign is implemented as a sustained and serious initiative aimed at eradicating tobacco use and protecting the youth. He also urged officers to contribute their best efforts to make the campaign effective and impactful.