Mizoram declared smoke-free

Mizoram was on Thursday declared a smoke-free state. The initiative came from the Chief Ministers official residence. CM Lal Thanhawlas wife Lal Riliani is the president of the Mizoram chapter of Indian Society on Tobacco Health.

The declaration of a smoke-free state means that smokers are now being cornered, said the CM,who formally made the declaration at Aizawl on Wednesday evening.

The Chief Minister asked the people to recall the Bible,according to which Christians are supposed to be non-smokers.

Over 95 per cent of the population of Mizoram is Christian,with the Church playing a very key role right from peace-brokering to enforcing a model code of conduct during elections. The state also holds record of the highest incidence of cancer in the country.