Haryana Governor Dr A R Kidwai, while inaugurating the event, said that mere enactment of laws is not sufficient and legislation should be supplemented with dissemination of information, awareness and provision of tobacco cessation services to the masses.

Professor Laxmi Kanta Chawla and Dr Rajiv Bindal, Health Ministers of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh respectively, also addressed the gathering, which included delegates from states like Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, New Delhi, Uttarakhand and Chandigarh.

Professor Chawla pointed the limitations in the government’s legislative policies and stressed upon the need to simultaneously ban the production and sale of tobacco.

Narrating the health hazards of using tobacco, Dr Bindal committed to muster all resources required to prevent the use of tobacco by the people, especially the youth.

A video showing the dangers of tobacco use was also screened before and after the inaugural function. This was followed by lectures by the delegates.