The District Level Coordination Committee (DLCC) on National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) today conducted a workshop/ meeting at conference hall of District headquarters wherein detailed review on the subject ‘Epidemiology of Tobacco Use in District Budgam’ was held, besides, it also discussed the contours of NTCP and provisions of COPTA-2003.
The meeting was chaired by Additional District Development Commissioner (ADDC) Budgam, Dr. Akramullah Tak. The meeting was held to review an 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.
The ADDC directed the concerned officers to intensify anti-tobacco drives, besides holding awareness camps in all sub divisions of the district. He 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.
He further instructed to keep check on the sale of tobacco and related products within 100 yards of any educational and other identified institutions.
ADDC exhorted upon DLCC members to intensify implementation of NTCP and COTPA 2003. Massive awareness drives about the health hazards of tobacco and enforcement of NTCP be launched in the district, he said.
He gave directions and suggestions to build the capacity of the enforcement wings to have a better understanding of the provisions of COTPA 2003 to implement the NTCP.
The Divisional Nodal officer NTCP, Dr. Mir Mushtaq 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.
He also gave an overview of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), discussed section 4, section 5, section 6, section 7 and strategies on effective implementation of COTPA-2003.
He threadbare discussed action plans on ‘Tobacco free educational institutions’ (ToFEI) and requested concerned departments to implement the guidelines of ToFEI in letter and spirit.
On the occasion, various eminent speakers from different backgrounds spoke about the ill effects of tobacco consumption on health. Earlier, Dr. Ayoub incharge CMO Budgam apprised regarding figures of tobacco consumption in the UT.
He provided a detailed review of the role of stakeholders combating consumption of tobacco and its allied products. Besides, CEO, CMO, SDMs of all sub divisions, principals of various colleges, DIO, Food safety officer, EOs of all MCs and other District and sectoral officers were present in the meeting.