With “gutka” consumption in the State assuming ominous proportions and the younger generation getting increasingly addicted to tobacco, a “tobacco-free” Uttar Pradesh is high on the agenda of the Akhilesh Yadav Government. Chief Secretary Javed Usmani said on Thursday that an action plan would be formulated for making UP tobacco-free.

Presiding over a meeting of “Campaign of Tobacco Free Kids” here, Mr. Usmani directed senior officials of the State Health, Education, Home and Tax departments to formulate separate plans for curbing the use of tobacco.