Punjab Leads Nation with Lowest Tobacco Use

The latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS 6) places Punjab at the forefront of tobacco control, with Health Minister Balbir Singh highlighting the state's lowest consumption rates nationwide.

According to the survey, only 13.9% of males aged 15 and above use tobacco, well below the national average of 36.3%, while female usage is just 0.5% compared to the national 8.4%.

Singh credits this public health triumph to an aggressive, multi-faceted approach incorporating strong legal frameworks and widespread community involvement. Notably, over 800 villages have declared themselves tobacco-free, while 98.6% of schools adhere to Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions guidelines.

Punjab's government remains committed to enforcing tobacco laws strictly, aiming to sustain its progress through continued public awareness and legal enforcement campaigns, with a long-term vision of a tobacco-free society.

(With inputs from agencies.)