KISHTWAR: Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar, Dr. Devansh Yadav today chaired a crucial meeting of the District Level Coordination Committee (DLCC) on the National Tobacco Control Programme .
The meeting was attended by ADC Inderjeet Parihar; Add SP Rajinder Singh; CMO Dr M Y Mir; Medical Superintendent DH Dr. Yudhveer Singh Kotwal; Dy.CMO Dr. Balbir Kumar; District Immunization Officer, Dr. Sajjad Hussain; BMO Kishtwar, Dr. S.L Manhas, BMO Chatroo, Dr.Saima; BMO Dachhan, Dr. Krishan Singh Katoch, State Programme Officer NTCP Mohd Naser, Drug Inspector, Manish Kumar, representative of Education, Agriculture and Food Safety Departments.
The meeting assessed the progress made in enforcing the provisions outlined in The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 (COTPA, 2003) and to strategize the implementation of the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP).
The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) outlined the agenda and delineated the roles and responsibilities of the DLCC members under NTCP.
State Programme Officer NTCP Mohd Naser, threw light on the current scenario of tobacco usage in the District. He also detailed the punitive measures and enforcement provisions of COTPA-2003, along with strategies and comprehensive intervention measures for its effective implementation.
Reviewing the action taken on decisions taken in the previous meeting, the Deputy Commissioner urged all stakeholders to actively participate in enforcing the provisions of COTPA-2003. He emphasized the importance of generating public awareness, particularly among the youth, regarding the detrimental effects of tobacco use.
In devising an action plan to curb tobacco usage, he highlighted the prevalence of tobacco consumption in smoking form and stressed the need to develop strategies aimed at reducing its consumption accordingly. Furthermore, he directed the Chief Education Officer Kishtwar to disseminate anti-tobacco messages during morning assemblies in educational institutions and ensure that no business establishment sells tobacco products within 100 yards of any educational institution.
Dr. Devansh Yadav emphasized the involvement of district youth icons in the campaign to effectively raise awareness against the hazards of tobacco.
Stakeholders were tasked with conducting capacity-building programs for enforcement officers. They were also directed to conduct field inspections and visits to ensure strict enforcement of COPTA provisions in public places and educational institutions.
Highlighting the importance of creating No Smoking zones, the Deputy Commissioner stressed the installation of appropriate signage for reinforcing these zones within the district.
He underlined the need to form surveillance teams for evidence-based research, data collection, and analysis of oral cancer cases in the district, facilitating real-time planning and implementation.