Rita Thakur of Nada India returns to Shimla after representing India in Asia Young Ambassadors Summit 2023

Shimla, Reeta Thakur of Nada India Foundation, representing India at the CTFK Asia Young Ambassadors Summit 2023 held in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand from 27th August to 1st September, returned to Shimla. Reeta is a student of the Department of Social Work at Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), who in this five-day conference deliberate upon the social and economic challenges posed by tobacco and its prevention measures. While sharing her experiences, Reeta said she got a chance to know closely the various aspects of policy making, youth advocacy, public opinion creation, anti-tobacco influencing etc. on tobacco control with other foreign representatives. She also appraised the fact that how other nations influence their policies to deal with tobacco.

Reeta is very excited to present her stand on such a regional platform and wants to further strengthen the anti-tobacco campaign of Nada India and its state leadership under Mangal Singh, Sunny Singh convenor Nada Young India Network and others. She affirmed to continue her strong efforts for the COTPA amendments and expressed her desire to meet Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and State Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu to present before them the resolutions passed in forum to curb tobacco menace.

Suneel Vatsyayan, the founder of Nada India Foundation and Karmaveer Award recipient expressed happiness over the successful conduct of this Youth Summit and the resolution put forward by the youth representatives. He said that youth power can play a vital role in bringing positive changes in the society, countries and even Asia at large. Such platforms organized at the global level will not only play an important role in tobacco cessation but will also prove helpful in laying the foundation for a healthy world.

She said that despite India having a massive population, the steps being taken by the Central and State Govt for tobacco control are an excellent example for other nations. Citing the initiative taken by the HP Govt to increase the CCGR tax on tobacco products, Rita emphasized that the other nation's delegates can put continuous demands on their governments for increasing the tax on tobacco. 

She presented a case study on tobacco disclaimers on national broadcasting and OTT platforms in India, COTPA amendment and increase in tax on tobacco products for national prosperity in view of increase in revenue and health awareness of the youth, which was appreciated by all. 

Reeta informed that she had been a part of the Green and Healthy Campus campaign which was initiated by Nada India and NAPSWI to carry out many environmental friendly programs for HPU. She shared the outlines of those programs with foreign representatives and was well appreciated by all.