RAMBAN, OCTOBER 13: Deputy Commissioner Ramban Mohammad Alyas Khan today chaired a meeting of the District Level Coordination Committee for the implementation of National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) and reviewed control measures being taken, including the enforcement of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003.
The meeting was attended by Additional SP Ramban Majeeb-Ur-Rehman, ACD Ashfaq Ahmed, CMO Kamal Je Zadoo, Divisional Coordinator NTCP Shiveta Raina, BMOs, CEO MC Ramban and officers from School Education, Higher Education and other departments.
During the meeting, the Deputy Commissioner emphasized strict enforcement of the COTPA Act to eliminate tobacco usage particularly in public places across the district. He directed the concerned officers to install mandatory signage in educational and health institutions as well as public areas like bus stands and government offices to raise awareness about the prohibition and harmful effects of tobacco use.
The DC directed all stakeholders to launch an intensified enforcement-cum-awareness drive to effectively implement the NTCP in the district. He instructed BDOs, BMOs and ZEOs to work in mission mode to make all schools, colleges, other institutions and villages tobacco-free as per prescribed parameters.
Further, the Deputy Commissioner asked CEOs and institutional heads to strengthen anti-tobacco campaigns and administer anti-tobacco pledges to students during morning assemblies. He also instructed designated officers to actively participate in enforcement drives to ensure all educational and health institutions become tobacco-free zones.
Reviewing the progress made by stakeholder departments, the DC directed them to launch a comprehensive IEC campaign to sensitize the public about the harmful effects of tobacco use and the provisions of COTPA-2003.
Earlier, in a detailed presentation, the CMO and Divisional Coordinator NTCP provided insights into the tobacco usage scenario in Jammu and Kashmir, explained the penal and enforcement provisions under COTPA-2003 and discussed strategies for implementing the Tobacco Free Youth Campaign 3.0.
