DDC Kupwara directs stringent enforcement of tobacco control laws

Kupwara, Aug 28: A comprehensive review meeting of the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) and the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA)-2003 was held here at the District Administrative Complex, Kupwara.
The meeting was chaired by District Development Commissioner (DDC) Kupwara, Shrikant Suse wherein the district’s overall performance under the programme was reviewed threadbare and a roadmap for stringent enforcement and mass awareness was laid down.
Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Kupwara made a detailed presentation before the chair, apprising the meeting about the achievements made so far, challenges being faced, and enforcement statistics under COTPA-2003 across all blocks of the district.
The DDC directed all enforcement officers and concerned departments to intensify anti-tobacco drives and improve the rate of COTPA challans within their respective jurisdictions.
He further directed all participating officers to submit regular monthly progress reports on COTPA challans and other enforcement measures to the CMO Office, Kupwara, without fail.
The DDC also directed for installation of prominent Information, Education and Communication (IEC) material, containing provisions and health warnings under NTCP and COTPA, at all high-footfall public places across the district.
The meeting set a target of declaring 100 villages of the district as complete Tobacco-Free Villages by the end of the current year. The DDC further directed that all educational institutions, including schools and colleges, shall be made 100 percent Tobacco-Free Campuses by the end of December 2026.
The meeting was attended among others by SDM Lolab, Dr Mudasir Ahmad, CMO Kupwara, DYSP Hqr Kupwara, all Block Medical Officers (BMOs), Food Safety Officer , besides other concerned officers and officials.