Students of all Government schools in the State of Assam will take oath

Under leadership of Shri Preetom Saikia, Commissioner & Secretary to the Government of Assam, Secondary Education Department, Shri  SN Chowdhury Joint Secretary on November 14, 2018 has written a letter to all Deputy Commissioners to organise pledge taking ceremony in their districts and instruct all the Inspector of Schools and District Elementary Education Officers to ensure that pledge is taken in all schools.

It is to be mentioned that Assam has 48.2% adults (aged 15+) tobacco users of which 13.3% smoke tobacco and 41.7% use smokeless tobacco products as per the Global Adult Tobacco Survey GATS 2017.

In this joint initiative of Department of Education – Assam, Sambandh Health Foundation (SHF) supported by Tata Trusts, Assam Cancer Care Foundation, Rotary Assam, Indian Dental Association, Dr B. Borooah Cancer Institute and National Service Scheme, under ‘Pledge for Life’ campaign the students will be made aware about the ill-effects of tobacco usage. In Assam nearly half of all adults over 15 years use tobacco, compared with 28.6% all India. Assam also has among the highest cancer rates in the country.

The school students will be administered oath that they will not touch tobacco and also discourage others around them not to do so on December 1, 2018.