KATHUA: Additional Deputy Commissioner Ranjit Singh today presided over a Training-cum-District Level Coordination Committee (DLCC) meeting to review the implementation of National Tobacco Control Program (NTCP) in the district.
At the outset, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Vijay Raina highlighted the achievements in enforcing anti-tobacco measures. He also discussed key components of the NTCP, including the prohibition of smoking in public places, the ban on the sale of tobacco products within 100-yard radius of educational institutions, and the restriction on both direct and indirect advertising of tobacco products.
The meeting deliberated on the need for concerted efforts, incorporating a comprehensive set of activities such as conducting Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaigns in schools and communities, declaring educational institutions as Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI), designating at least 50 villages as Tobacco-Free Villages by the next quarterly review, and conducting aggressive enforcement drives to ensure compliance with tobacco control regulations.
The ADC called for adopting all laid down procedures and guidelines in implementing the NTCP in the district. He directed the Chief Education Officer to ensure that all educational institutions register on the ToFEI application and update the required 10-point Tobacco-Free attributes. He also called for random inspections by the police, civil administration, and officers designated under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003.
The ADC further instructed Block Development Officers to educate all stakeholders and strengthen community-based efforts in combating tobacco use. It was also decided to designate a Nodal Officer in all offices and institutions to ensure the smooth implementation of anti-tobacco measures. Earlier, Nodal Officer NTCP J&K Shiveta Raina informed that under the NTCP, the Health Department has recorded 129 counseling and pharmacotherapy sessions in the Jammu Division.
The session also included detailed discussions on the provisions of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2023, particularly sections 4, 5, 6, and 7, which focus on restrictions on smoking in public places, the sale and advertisement of tobacco products, and enforcement measures. The police and other designated authorities were directed to conduct enforcement drives at regular intervals to strengthen anti-tobacco measures across the district.
The meeting also emphasized the importance of engaging ambassadors and role models to inspire youth to refrain from tobacco use and raise awareness about its harmful effects. The meeting concluded with a resolve to enhance coordination among the health, education, police, and civil administration to ensure the effective implementation of the National Tobacco Control Program in Kathua.
