The Kangleipak Students’ Association (KSA) has sought support from the public in their ongoing drive against betel leaves, tobacco products and intoxicants as preventive measures to control COVID-19 spread.
In a release, its publicity secretary H Babullu said that the state has been taking various precautionary measures to combat COVID-19 such as imposition of lockdown, implementation of Standard of Operating Procedures (SoPs).
But the number of positive cases is surging each day and the state even becomes one of the worst COVID-19 affected states in the country. The irresponsible nature of the people has become one of the contributing factors to enhance the spread of the virus, it said.
It further stated that the government of India has announced ban on tobacco products and intoxicants on April 10 as preventive measures against COVID-19 pandemic. In accordance to it, the state government also notified ban on such items including import of betel leaves. However, the ban is not effective in the state till date; it said adding that the ongoing pandemic may be worsened lest the state make sincere efforts to curb chewing tobacco products in crowded place and consumption of intoxicants in parties or gathering among others.
It also said that the association has been conducting drive to seize those items and maintained that the drive would not be a success without efforts and cooperation from various sections of the society.
While urging the Airports Authority of India to check their consignment strictly to ensure that such banned items are not imported in the state, it appealed to truck drivers not to involve in smuggling such items.
