Photo Courtesy: nagalandpost
Kohima: Dimapur officials gathered Thursday at the Additional Deputy Commissioner’s office to demand tighter enforcement of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003. District Level Coordination Committee members want more boots on the ground to police the ban on tobacco sales near schools and public areas. Dr. Diana Patton, Additional Deputy Commissioner, chaired the meeting. She pushed for greater involvement from women and civil society groups to reach the grassroots.
Nagaland has seen a drop in tobacco use. Data from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey shows overall usage fell from 56.8 percent in 2009-10 to 43.3 percent by 2016-17. Smoking prevalence plummeted from 31.5 percent to 13.2 percent. Smokeless tobacco use dipped from 45.3 percent to 39 percent. Despite these gains, the National Tobacco Control Programme is struggling to stay afloat.
District Nodal Officer Dr. Esther Chophy reported a massive funding gap. The program receives only Rs 10,000 every three months. “This is insufficient for regular inspections and enforcement activities,” she stated. Chophy called on the district administration for more financial and logistical muscle to sustain current progress.
The crackdown remains a priority. Authorities currently oversee 151 tobacco-free educational institutions, including 138 schools and 13 colleges. Four villages also carry the tobacco-free designation. Officials urged parents and schools to stop sending minors to buy tobacco. They plan to boost inter-departmental coordination to ensure businesses honor the 100-yard rule near campuses.
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