To chalk out the further strategy in intensifying tobacco control in the northern States, a regional workshop on National Tobacco Control Programme was held on Monday in Chandigarh, especially after the forceful implementation of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Control and Prohibition) Act (COTPA) in Punjab.
As many as 40 participants from seven States and UTs, including Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Uttrakhand, Delhi, and Chandigarh, and officials from the World Health Organisation (WHO), Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare attended the conference.
Under the 12th five-year plan, the Centre has proposed expansion of National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) to increase its coverage all over India, said an official spokesperson of the Punjab Government.
In 2014-15, NTCP coverage has been increased from 53 districts to 108 districts across 31 states and UTs which is further expanded in the year 2015-16 to over 200 districts.
During the meeting, Deputy Regional Director of the Union South-East Asia Dr Rana J Singh said that tobacco epidemic was entirely preventable but multi-stakeholder approach was needed to fight this menace. “This workshop would help the participants to gain in-depth knowledge to implement, manage, supervise, monitor and evaluate NTCP at State and district level,” he said.
Dr Singh said that Punjab, though a non-NTCP state till 2014, was doing extremely well in tobacco control. “In addition to declaration of all 22 districts as tobacco free, five districts have been declared as total compliant to anti-tobacco law — COTPA,” he said.
Punjab Health Services director Dr HS Bali shared Punjab’s journey for tobacco control in the state and assured to implement many more innovations beyond COTPA for strengthening and advancing tobacco control in Punjab.
Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare joint secretary KC Samria conveyed the Government’s firm commitment for effective tobacco control in the country.
He advised all the participants to ensure effective enforcement of legislation, multi-stakeholder engagement, regular supervision and monitoring, review of programme activities and regular reporting to the Central Government.
Punjab State Tobacco Control Programme Officer Dr Rakesh Gupta said that to virtually demonstrate the practical aspects of implementation of anti-tobacco law as a part of field activity, enforcement drive was organised by Punjab team led by its officers. As many as 20 challans were issued to violators and an awareness regarding latest pictorial health warnings was given to the tobacco vendors.