KATHUA, NOVEMBER 12: A Training-cum-District Level Coordination Committee review meeting was held today to flag effective measures to foster National Tobacco Control Program (NTCP) in District Kathua. The meeting was chaired by Additional District Development Commissioner Surinder Mohan, bringing together key stakeholders to discuss strategies and actions aimed at curbing tobacco use in the district.
The meeting included an overview of the NTCP by the Chief Medical Officer Dr Vijay Raina. He said that NTCP was introduced in the 7th Five Year Plan (2007-08 ) with the objective of raising awareness about the dangers of tobacco use and reducing tobacco-related harm. He also threw light on the key components of the NTCP like the prohibition of smoking in public places, the ban on the sale of tobacco products within the 100-yard diameter of educational institutions, and the prohibition of both direct and indirect advertising of tobacco products.
It was highlighted that in line with the NTCP, the Health Department, Kathua has launched a “Tobacco-Free Youth Campaign”, which includes a comprehensive set of activities such as Conducting Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) activities across schools and communities, Declaring a minimum of 160 educational institutions in each district as Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI), Declaring at least 20 villages as Tobacco-Free Villages, Conducting a minimum of 16 enforcement drives to ensure compliance with tobacco control regulations.
The campaign was officially launched on September 24 and has already seen significant outreach, including awareness sessions conducted in schools, challans issued to violators, and the use of media to amplify the message. Besides, street plays have been organized to spread awareness in the community.
Addressing the severity of the issue, the CMO emphasized the alarming statistic that one person dies every 6.5 seconds due to tobacco-related illnesses, highlighting the need for urgent action.
The ADDC directed that a re-verification process be carried out to ensure that the tobacco-free zones in educational institutions and villages are being properly maintained. He called for random inspections by police and civil administration, as well as hotspot checks to monitor tobacco use in sensitive areas.
Surinder Mohan also suggested the declaration of “Tobacco-Free Villages”, further strengthening community-based efforts in the fight against tobacco use. In line with this, Panchayat-level committees will be formed to improve monitoring and compliance at the grassroots level.
Divisional Level Coordinator Shiveta Raina said as per the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 2019, tobacco consumption is alarmingly high in Kathua, with 33.3% of males and 2.2% of females reporting tobacco use. The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA-2023) provisions, including sections 4, 5, 6, and 7 were also discussed in the meeting, which focus on restrictions on smoking in public places, sale and advertisement of tobacco products, and enforcement by authorized personnel.
Further, the meeting proposed the declaration of Ambassadors and Role Models to inspire the youth to refrain from tobacco use and to raise awareness about its dangers.
The district also continues to lead in tobacco cessation efforts. The district has established a Tobacco Cessation Centre where pharmacotherapy is being provided to individuals looking to quit tobacco use. This initiative is playing a pivotal role in supporting those who wish to break free from tobacco addiction.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to enhance the coordination between health, education, police, and civil administration to ensure the success of the National Tobacco Control Program in Kathua.
