Kohima: Nagaland officials met in Kohima on October 22 to tighten tobacco control. The Directorate of Health and Family Welfare hosted the state-level workshop alongside Vital Strategies at their conference hall. Dr Reyosalu Lase Vizo opened the event before Director Dr I Arenla Walling took the stage. The session aimed to unify local licensing and enforcement efforts.
T Nchumbemo Odyuo, Additional Secretary of Municipal Affairs, pushed for active enforcement. He noted that the licensing system must remain simple for sellers. Odyuo stated: "Tobacco Vendor Licensing (TVL) was designed to be vendor-friendly, affordable and accessible." He added that officials must focus awareness campaigns on youth and vulnerable groups to reduce the heavy toll of tobacco.
Retired Director Dr Chiekroshuyi Tetseo joined as guest of honour to discuss municipal legal frameworks. Technical Advisor Dr Hansa Kundu provided a national update on licensing, while State Nodal Officer Dr I Simon Sumi detailed the local health burden. Kohima District Nodal Officer Dr Neingutunuo Angami reported on recent field trials in the city.
Dr Kundu led deep dives into enforcing the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act of 2003. This covered sections 4 through 7 of the federal law. To wrap up, Dr Upendra Singh Bhadauria pitched a new web-based app for tracking progress. The tool aims to help build tobacco-free villages across the state. The State Tobacco Control Cell led the entire operation.
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