Dimapur, July 12: A workshop for enforcement officers and personnel of the anti-tobacco squad in Kohima are getting some IEC education about the harmful effects of tobacco besides a touch of the Cigarettes or Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 (COTPA). A workshop was held at the Conclave Conference Hall in Kohima on July 12.
The State Nodal Officer of the National Tobacco Control Program (NTCP) Dr. H Hotokhu Chishi said that the workshop was important for the enforcement officers in order to equip them well informed about the harmful effects of tobacco so as to act as a role model while implementing the enforcement activities in their respective areas.
Speaking as resource person on the topic “hazards of tobacco,” Dr. Chishi said that tobacco was the only legal ‘product available in the market that kills 50% of its users globally where India is the third largest producer in the world next to China and Brasil and the second largest consumer in the world next to China.’ The use has led to India becoming the country having the biggest number of oral cancer cases in the world resulting. 2, 200 of its population die every day and 10 lakh of its population die every year due to tobacco use, he said.As per GATS 2010 released by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Chishi informed that Nagaland Tobacco Statistic shows an overall 57% prevalence of tobacco with 26.3% of cigarette, 11.8% of Bidi and 45.0% of smokeless. He highlighted the burdens of tobacco in term of health, economy and environment and what it offers to our body and the consequences one has to pay off and also highlighted on the district wise tobacco profile.
In this regard, Dr. Chishi said that Nagaland has ‘advantages since there is no agriculture or job shifting problem, no production and processing industry, no tobacco support lobby and moreover a responsive community as being Christian majority.’ He also added that it was not only the domain of Health & Family Welfare Department nor the District Administration but every individual to be a responsive to the cause and carry forward this problem in their respective levels for the benefit of our people and to make Nagaland a State a Tobacco Free State, Smoke Free State and Environment Free State.
Legal Aid Counsel Akumla Longchari spoke on the Tobacco Control Act (COTPA 2003) as resource person highlighted the main provisions of the Act which included prohibition of smoking in public places, prohibition of advertisement of tobacco products, prohibition on sale of product to and by minor and specific health warnings on tobacco products.
On the Law dealing with ‘Smoking in public places’, she informed that Central Government or State Government may appoint one or more persons to take action against any person smoking in public places, which can be settled on the spot by the enforcement officer and further highlighted the ‘Role of Enforcement Officials’ where the notified officers could conducts surprise checks and routine inspections at restaurants, hotels, government and other public buildings and transport and if caught violating the provision a penalty amount could be imposed to the violators. She also highlighted on the other laws beside COTPA’ and various suggestions for effective implementation of the Act.
Deputy Commissioner of Kohima, also the chairman of the DLCC, Rovilatuo Mor, also spoke during the event. Mor expressed optimism that the ‘members have taken serious note of it and understand clearly about the harmful effects of tobacco through this workshop.’
To control the harmful effects of tobacco, he said, the official informed that the first step taken by the DLCC was to make the Kohima town a “smoke free city,” which was declared on April 28. It was followed by issuance of guidelines and an action plan as laid by the DLCC for effective Implementation of the “smoke free” Kohima “city.”
Mor has requested all the enforcement officers to ‘create awareness on the guidelines’ and take active part and initiative in their respective areas for the successful implementation of the smoke free city and create a healthy environment with equal participation.
