Ban smoking in polling centres in Assam: NGO

Posted on 2nd Apr 2014 05:30 am by admin

Guwahati, April 2 (IANS) A leading non-profit organisation working in the field of public health has requested poll officials in Assam to prohibit smoking in all polling booths in the state during the three-phased polls starting April 7.

The chief electoral officers (CEO) of Jammu and Kashmir and Bihar have already issued directives to ensure that all polling centres in their states are declared smoke-free.

"We have met the CEO Assam over the issue and he has assured to look into the matter and try and do something positive in this direction. The CEO said a decision could be expected after his discussion with the Election Commission," said a spokesman of the Voluntary Health Association of Assam (VHAA).

Assam has one of the highest incidences of cancer related to tobacco use.

"According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey carried out in 2010, 52.6 percent of males and 25.3 percent of females in Assam use tobacco in some form or the other. The prevalence of tobacco users in terms of urban and rural population is 40.6 and 39.1 percent respectively, which is way above the national prevalence rate," he said.

Other news

PM Modi: 'There is a conspiracy to divide the society, it is necessary to stop it', Modi on the 200th anniversary of Shri Swaminarayan Temple

Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the 200th anniversary celebrations of Shri Swaminara

Education has become an industry in the country, children have to go to Ukraine; Supreme Court expressed concern

Education has become a big industry in the country. Due to this, students who are unable to affor

Journalist, unionist Vasant Pradhan dies

Mumbai, Feb 2 (IANS) Vasant Pradhan, a veteran Marathi journalist, trade unionist and Gandhian,

61 percent polling in Karnataka, 50 percent in Bangalore

Bangalore, April 17 (IANS) Around 61 percent voting was reported across Karnataka where polling

Suspense on the name of CM in Karnataka! DK Shivakumar left for Delhi from Bangalore, said - I will not blackmail

The suspense remains on who will be the next CM of Karnataka. Karnataka Congress President DK Shi

Tiranga Utsav: PM Modi raised the value of the tricolor, Home Minister Shah made this appeal regarding the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign

New India is being built under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India's respect ha

Odisha to launch housing mission for poor

Bhubaneswar, Jan 6 (IANS) Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Tuesday said the state governmen

Lok Sabha Election: Why do voters choose Modi government? BJP explained with this 2.13-minute VIDEO

Lok Sabha Election 2024. Bharatiya Janata Party has entered the electoral fray to win 400 seats i

RO/ARO Paper Leak: Why trust on private printing press despite having a government press? Candidates raised questions

The STF, which is investigating the paper leak case in the Review Officer (RO) / Assistant Review

Ziva Dhoni got Messi's signed jersey: Sakshi shared the photo, and wrote in the caption - Like father like daughter

Football legend Lionel Messi has gifted his signed jersey to Ziva Dhoni, daughter of former India