District Level Coordination Committee on National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) today held a detailed review meeting on the subject ‘Epidemiology of Tobacco Use in District Samba’ and discussed the contours of NTCP and provisions of COPTA-2003, here at mini conference hall of district headquarters.
The meeting was chaired was DLCC Chairperson, and Deputy Commissioner, Anuradha Gupta. The meeting was held to review action plan for implementation of Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products Act 2003, prohibiting advertising of and to regulate production, supply, and distribution of cigarettes and other tobacco products.
DC exhorted upon DLCC members to intensify implementation of NCTP & COPTA 2003. Massive awareness drive about the health hazards of tobacco and enforcement of National Tobacco Control Programme be launched in district, she said. She gave directions and suggestions to build the capacity of the enforcement wings to have a better understanding of the provisions of COPTA 2003 to implement National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP).
The Divisional Coordinator NTCP, Shiveta Raina detailed on the prevailing tobacco usage scenario in the Jammu and Kashmir UT besides, giving details of the penal and enforcement provisions of COTPA-2003. She also gave an overview of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), Article 5.3, MPOWER and strategies on effective implementation of COTPA-2003.
The Deputy Commissioner directed the concerned officers to intensify anti-tobacco drives, besides holding awareness camps in all sub divisions of the district. DC directed the Education department, Municipal Council, and Police to disseminate the message of ill effects of tobacco consumption among school children during “World No Tobacco Day” events.
She further instructed to keep check on the sale of tobacco and related products within 100 yards of any educational and other identified institutions. During the meeting Additional Deputy Commissioner, Suram Chand Sharma, Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Ravinder Kumar, Sub Divisional Magistrates, CMO, BMOs, CEO, Tehsildars, besides other officers were present.