Workshop on NTCP held at Pulwama, ADM stresses on strict enforcement of COTPA

Pulwama: The Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir in collaboration with District Health Society Pulwama saturday organized a day long workshop on National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) for enforcement squads cum District level Coordination Committee for tobacco control.
Additional District Magistrate, Pulwama, who was also the Chief Guest, inaugurated the event held in the Meeting Hall at District Administrative Complex, Pulwama.
At the outset, Dr. Nasir, gave a brief overview of the workshop and objective of the DLCC meeting through a PowerPoint presentation. He highlighted the role and responsibilities of designated committee members on Tobacco Control.
Speaking on the occasion, he informed the participants about the burden of tobacco use in India including J&K. He also briefed the participants about NTCP and Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003.
He added that the main objective of organizing this training programme is to engage the key stakeholders such as senior government officials, national experts to build the capacity of the stakeholders and to get a better understanding regarding enforcement of the provisions of the COTPA -2003 and to implement the NTCP.
Provision of mandatory vendor licensing for tobacco shops based on an advisory of MOHFW Govt. of India is important to limit the accessibility of Tobacco products to discourage minor and new users, he added.
During the training programme, the Key note address on advancing tobacco control in District Pulwama was delivered by experts, while the technical session on Epidemiology and burden of tobacco use in India and UT J&K was also conducted.
Addressing the training programme, the ADM laid thrust on enforcement of the COTPA 2003 in letter and spirit. She also called for the constitution of enforcement squads within the shortest possible time. Necessary instructions were issued for better implementation of the programme in the district with inter-sectoral convergence so as to make the programme a big success in the district.
The Tehsildars were asked to inspect all the educational institutions in the light of COTPA-2003 and submit a compliance report after drawing a yellow line around the educational institutions.
The ADM directed the officers for declaration of tobacco free govt buildings, offices, educational institutions and public places. District officers were further directed to install no smoking signage in their respective offices
She also asked the Divisional Nodal Officer to give challan books to all the authorized officers for penalizing the violators under COTPA-2003.