Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has said tobacco control needs a combination of multi-sectoral policies and public awareness to drive down its demand and supply. Addressing International Conference on Public Health through a recorded message in New Delhi on Wednesday, Dr Singh noted that use of tobacco has serious consequences on economy and society.

He called for developing strategies to provide alternative livelihoods to tobacco growers to move towards tobacco-free society.

Highlighting the intiatives of government which has banned sale of gutka in 33 states and union territories, Dr Singh said India is committed to a tobacco-free society. He also pointed out that Parliament had enacted comprehensive legislations for tobacco control.

Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad told the conference, the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke, NPCDCS, is being expanded to all districts in the country during the 12th Plan.

He said the Centre is also working on a roadmap to integrate both NPCDCS and the National Tobacco Control Programme, NTCP, to strenghten response to non-communicable diseases.

NTCP is currently operational in 42 districts in the country.