Nada India Foundation's One Day Himachal Consultation Workshop ended on Positive note

The Nada India Foundation, New Delhi in Collaboration with the Faculty of Law, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla organized One Day State Consultation Workshop on 27^th October 2023 in the Conference Hall of the Department of Laws, Himachal Pradesh. In this State Consultation Workshop more than 60 delegates actively participated. In this State Consultation Workshop the theme was on “Strengthening Tobacco Control Laws in Himachal”. 

In this the State Consultation Workshop the dignitaries were from Delhi, Haryana, Himachal, Punjab were the main speakers. Among young participants the scholars were from Faculty of Law, Social work, Sociology, Public administration have taken active participation in this workshop. In the Inaugural Session of this State consultation the Chief Guest was Dr. Ramesh Chander Chhajta SP Police Headquarters Shimla has spoken on the various dimensions on the use of tobacco. 

 

Dr. Chhajta while delivering the inaugural address has emphasized on the moral values and quoted numerable instances in the support of his argument. He has quoted the judgement of Maruti Sripati and Gian Kaur Case where he correlated the use of tobacco with the Right to life including Right to Die. His deliberation was about the role of welfare State as per the Article 47 of Constitution of India dealing with Directive Principles of State policy. He strongly supported it’s not only the responsibility of  State to protect citizens but he also emphasized about the young generation with strong characters.

He shows his concern towards the Law which will strengthen the young society through dissemination of education. In addition to this  Sh. Narender Kumar , National Lead CTFK , India said  that to strengthen the Government effort on Tobacco Laws all the State needs to pass  the COTPA (Amendment) Act 2003 .

After that   Dr Gopal Chauhan , State tobacco Control  Nodal Officer, Himachal has emphasized about the amendment of COTPA  Act 2003 in detail. He also narrated the reason for declaration of State of Himachal Pradesh as smoke free State resulting into having the award from WHO on 31 May, 2023. 

His case studies was unescapable part of this consultation workshop. On this occasion Nada India team has given the statistical view about tobacco control Laws applicable in India with special reference to State of Himachal Pradesh. Sh. Ranjit Singh Sr. Advocate , Supreme Court of India has delivered a special session on COTPA Act 2003 . 

In this program among other dignitaries Prof . Mool Raj Verma, Choudhary Charan Singh University, Haryana were among the resource persons who remained in this occasion, Professor Mamta Mokta ,Dean Faculty of Social sciences also enlightened about the administrative efforts and its review in the light of current scenario.  

This State consultation workshop was organized jointly by the Nada India Foundation in collaboration with Faculty of Law under the coordinators, Sh Mangal Singh, Dr. Geetika Sood and Abhishek Negi. 

These submissions shall be forwarded to State government followed by Panel discussion in consolidated manner for making Himachal 100% tobacco free State. Moreover both the partners will also continue with the tobacco free Himachal campaign in public as well s educational institutions

*Nada Centre for Health Communication & Media Studies