Odisha secretariat premises declared tobacco-free zone

Bhubaneswar, Sep 17 (UNI) The Odisha government has declared the Lok Seva Bhavan premises a "tobacco-free zone", banning smoking, tobacco consumption and spitting of tobacco products on the state secretariat campus. The Health and Family Welfare Department issued a notification to this effect, stating that the move was aimed at protecting employees and visitors from the harmful effects of tobacco use and promoting a clean and healthy workplace. Violations of the ban will be treated as punishable offences under the law, the notification said. The department said tobacco use is a major cause of several non-communicable diseases, including cancer, heart…