Help govt in imposing total ban on smokeless tobacco, says CM

IMPHAL, July 6: State Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has appealed to the people to help the government to completely ban smokeless tobacco products like Zarda, Talab and Khaini from the state.

From the state government’s side, the police and excise department have taken up various steps to impose the ban, he said.   The Chief Mistier was speaking at a one day state level political convention of the Mahila Congress held this afternoon here at Congress Bhavan, BT Road.

“To save the younger generation from drug abuse and to ban these harmful tobacco products like Zarda, Talab and Khaini, Manipur Pradesh Mahila Congress Committee members should take active role,” the CM said while adding that prolonged use of these tobacco products can cause lung cancer and other forms of cancers.

While saying this, the CM advised the female workers of Manipur Pradesh Mahila Congress Committee not to fight with people selling the banned products but instead handle the issue with care and make them understand the harmful effects and encourage them to completely ban these harmful tobacco products.

Coming back to the topic of the function, the Chief Minister said that the Indian National Congress has been taking active role for the welfare of the women section of the society and added that efforts are still on to reserve 30 percent seats for women in the Parliaments and state Assemblies.

The Food Security Bill was recently passed in the Parliament. The Congress led UPA-I and UPA-II government has been working for this to happen for the last 7/8 years, the state CM said. However, opposition parties including BJP and SP have been objecting to the passing of this bill thinking that if this bill is passed then the Congress will get all the support from the women as well as the poor sections of the society, the CM said. Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam who is also the president of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee speaking at the function said that the Mahila Congress is also very important besides all other Congress frontal organizations like NSUI, Seva Dal, Youth Congress.   MPMCC president Meinam (O) RK Ranisana Devi, MPCC general secretary MLA D Korungthang who is also the Mahila Congress in-charge, Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency MP Thangso Baite and MPCC vice president MLA T Mangibabu Singh also spoke at the function.

The function was attended by MLA T Manga Vaiphei, MLA S Bira, Deputy Speaker MK Preshow Shimray, MPCC office bearers and leaders of Congress frontal organizations.