The District Level Coordination Committee ( DLCC) meeting on National Tobacco Control Programme was held today under the Chairmanship of Additional Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur Joginder Singh Jasrotia here in the Mini Conference Hall of DC Office Complex.
Detailed deliberations were held on different aspects which included Declaration of tobacco free public places, Government buildings/ Offices, Educational institutions, prohibition of sale of tobacco products to the children below 18 years, Yellow line campaign, promotion of Tobacco free village and transport, Monitoring cum surprise inspection by enforcement squad, availability of Challan books, Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution Act, 2003 or COTPA, 2003.
At the outset, CMO, Dr. Anil Manhas informed the meeting about the agenda, role and responsibilities of the members of DLCC under NTCP.The ADC asked the concerned officers to conduct inspection of the educational institutions in the light of COTPA-2003 and submit a compliance report after drawing a yellow line around the educational institutions.
The ADC directed the officers to declare tobacco free Govt buildings, offices, educational institutions, and public places.The District officers were further directed to install no smoking signage in their respective offices and declare tobacco free offices.
They were further asked to formulate enforcement squads at district as well as village level to check violations. He also called upon all stakeholders to actively participate in enforcement of provisions of COTPA-2003 and to generate awareness among the public in general and youth in particular regarding hazardous effects of tobacco use.
Necessary directions were issued to concerned officers to give challan books to all the officers authorized for challaning under COTPA-2003,so that defaulters can be dealt strictly and challaning will act as deterrent for violation of COTPA-2003.