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.

“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.

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.