National Tobacco Control Campaign: DC Jmu calls for spreading mass awareness

Jammu: Deputy Commissioner Ramesh Kumar Tuesday called for spreading mass awareness about the harmful effects of Tobacco.
Chairing a meeting of District Level Co-ordination Committee (DLCC) convened by District Health Society Jammu in collaboration with International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, he suggested to bring about greater awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco use and about the tobacco control laws among people.
The members called for disseminating information among the public regarding Tobacco Control Act, Reinforcement of COTPA (cigarettes and other Tobacco products Act 2003), ensuring Tobacco free educational institutions, villages and Government offices.
The Deputy Commissioner, while discussing various issues, stressed on making all government buildings, educational institutions tobacco free, display of board at the main gate of the school premises declaring that it’s a Tobacco free educational institutions, he added.
It was decided in the meeting that all public transport vehicles will be made tobacco free. Banning of any direct or indirect advertisements of tobacco on state transport buses and in bus stands and constitution of enforcement squads for keeping vigil on violations.
The enforcement squad will include officers from food and drug administration department, police department, education department and transport department.
It was ordered that the Vendor licensing shall be mandatory for tobacco seller otherwise he will not be allowed to sell the tobacco products in open market.
Earlier, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Danish Ayub Khan in his welcome address briefed the meeting about the objective of DLCC meeting.
Dr. Mridula Singh, Divisional Nodal Officer, NTCP in her keynote address and power point presentation gave introduction to NTCP and COTPA-2003. DLCC members resolved to give their best for the successful implementation of National Tobacco Control program in the District.
At the end, a pledge was taken by the members of the committee towards the cause.