Nagaland holds a workshop in Kohima to strengthen tobacco regulation, enforce COTPA and promote tobacco-free villages
DIMAPUR — The Directorate of Health & Family Welfare (DH&FW), Nagaland, in collaboration with Vital Strategies, organised a state-level orientation workshop on tobacco control under the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) at the DH&FW conference hall in Kohima on Thursday.
The workshop focused on strengthening tobacco regulation through Tobacco Vendor Licensing (TVL), enforcing provisions of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, and promoting tobacco-free villages across the state.
According to a DIPR report, Additional Secretary of Municipal Affairs, T Nchumbemo Odyuo, who attended as the special guest, highlighted the crucial role of municipal administration in effective tobacco regulation.
He explained the rationale and legal provisions of tobacco control laws and said TVL was designed to be vendor-friendly, inexpensive and accessible.
Odyuo urged government enforcement agencies to actively explore and implement TVL. He also stressed the need for sustained public awareness, particularly among youth, disadvantaged groups and other vulnerable sections of society who bear a disproportionate burden of tobacco-related harm.
Read more local news: Lotha bodies oppose transfer of Wokha’s lone psychiatrist
Hornbill Festival: Tribal hohos seek clarity on Kisama PPP plan
Dr. Hansa Kundu, technical advisor at Vital Strategies, presented a national update on TVL and conducted sessions on the enforcement of Sections 4, 5, 6 and 7 of COTPA, 2003.
State Nodal Officer for NTCP Nagaland, Dr. I Simon Sumi, presented an overview of the epidemiological burden of tobacco use at the state and national levels. Dr. Neingutunuo Angami, district nodal officer, shared field-level updates on the implementation of TVL in Kohima.
Dr. Upendra Singh Bhadauria, technical specialist (cessation) at Vital Strategies, presented strategies for establishing tobacco-free villages and introduced a proposed web-based application to track and monitor implementation efforts across Nagaland.
Director (Dental), DH&FW, Dr. I Arenla Walling, delivered the inaugural address, while Additional Director (Dental), DH&FW, Dr. Reyosalu Lase Vizo, welcomed the gathering.
The workshop also featured remarks and a presentation on the Municipal and TVL Act in Nagaland by the guest of honour, retired Director (Dental), DH&FW, Dr. Chiekroshuyi Tetseo.
Scholarship deadline extended
The Directorate of Health and Family Welfare (DH&FW) has notified to all the students and institutions that the online submission under common scholarship portal of Health & Family Welfare department has been extended till October 31, 2026.