On the occasion of World Tobacco Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday asked the countrymen to say 'no' to tobacco and lay the foundation of a healthier India. "On World No Tobacco Day, lets pledge to spread awareness on the risks of tobacco consumption & work to reduce tobacco consumption in India," he tweeted. On World No Tobacco Day, lets pledge to spread awareness on the risks of tobacco consumption & work to reduce tobacco consumption in India. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 31, 2014 "Tobacco not only affects those consuming it but also people around. By saying 'no' to tobacco, let us lay the foundation of a healthier India," he added. Tobacco not only affects those consuming it but also people around. By saying no to tobacco, let us lay the foundation of a healthier India. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 31, 2014 Painting a grim picture of the loss caused by tobacco consumption, a recent statement by the health ministry had put the total economic costs attributable to all diseases caused by it in India in 2011 at a staggering Rs 1,04,500 crore. The figure of 1.04 crore was more than the combined expenditure incurred in 2011 by the Central and state governments on health care, it had said.
