Malkangiri, 20th Oct 2025: At the District Collector’s office, an innovative initiative titled “Tobacco-Free Youth Campaign 3.0” was launched under the Department of Health and Family Welfare.
The event was held under the chairmanship of District Collector Somesh Kumar Upadhyay. The District Education Officer, District Welfare Officer, District Food Safety Officer, and Police Administration coordinated to raise awareness among the public about the harmful effects of tobacco. The District Collector directed the creation of awareness regarding tobacco hazards and the implementation of related laws in the district.
Steps will also be taken to form tobacco-free villages in the district, ensuring active enforcement of laws and tobacco-free educational institutions.
The District Collector emphasized the need to create tobacco opposition awareness through social media platforms, especially among youth aged 7 to 12 years and college students.
The program was inaugurated by key district youth leaders including Dr. Dolamani Pradhan, Senior Non-Communicable Disease Officer; Dr. M.M. Abid Hussain, District Public Health Officer; Dr. Nihar Ranjan Praharaj, Additional District Public Health Officer (Family Welfare); District Welfare Officer Srinibas Achari; District Education Officer Chitta Ranjan Panigrahi; Malkangiri Model Police Station Officer Rigan Kindo; Additional Officers from various departments; District Food Safety Officer Prabhas Kumar Sethi; Labor Officer Mrs. Duruka; DPM, AHM Dr. Mousumi Mishra; Epidemiologist Dr. D.C. Raj; and other health department officers.
The event was managed by Shiva Sundar Panigrahi. The campaign aims to make the tobacco opposition movement in the district more active and impactful.
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