Sonowal said building a tobacco-free society was the duty of every citizen and asked all MLAs and ministers to take a proactive role and sensitise public representatives even at the gaon panchayat levels for generating awareness on it. (PTI)

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today appealed people to mobilise public activism towards making the society tobacco-free.

“There must be activism from society to generate awareness against tobacco and its associated health hazards,” Sonowal said.

He was speaking at an awareness programme on Tobacco Free Assam on the theme ‘Save our Children’ held at the Central Hall of Assam Legislative Assembly here.

“Smoking must be addressed with all intensity. Passive smoking is as dangerous as active smoking and everybody in the society, including public representatives, must take a pledge for a tobacco-free society”, he said.

Sonowal said building a tobacco-free society was the duty of every citizen and asked all MLAs and ministers to take a proactive role and sensitise public representatives even at the gaon panchayat levels for generating awareness on it.

He urged upon all organisations mandated to work for the people to organise awareness drive against tobacco.

The Chief Minister also stressed the need for a ‘signature campaign’ to mobilise public opinion against tobacco use.

Assembly speaker Ranjeet Kumar Dass, Deputy Speaker Dilip Paul, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Chandra Mohan Patowary, Environment and Forest minister Pramila Rani Brahma, PWD minister Parimal Suklabaidya, Congress Legislature Party leader Debabrata Saikia were among others present on the occasion.