Tripura Leaders Push Public Action Against Tobacco and Hepatitis

Agartala: Tripura Labour Minister Tinku Roy is demanding a social movement to stop tobacco use. He spoke at a state-level workshop in Agartala, hosted under the National Tobacco Control Programme. Roy argued that government rules fail without citizen backing. He said, “Tobacco consumption destroys not only the person but also the wellbeing of their family and community.”

Key officials joined the discussion. West Tripura Zilla Parishad Acting Sabhadhipati Biswajit Shil and Tripura Women’s Commission Chairperson Jharna Debbarma attended. Dr. Srilekha Roy, president of the Voluntary Health Association of Tripura, joined State Programme Officer Dr. Shukla Debbarma. They mapped out plans to fight cancer and non-communicable diseases. The goal is to enforce tobacco laws and ensure smoke-free workspaces.

Separately, Chief Minister Manik Saha addressed a different health crisis on July 28. He marked World Hepatitis Day at Rabindra Satabarsiki Bhavan in Agartala. The Chief Minister cited hepatitis as a persistent public health challenge. He urged residents to choose healthy lifestyles and seek early diagnosis. Saha also wants to kill the stigma surrounding the disease. He believes community cooperation will lead to a hepatitis-free state.