Heads of educational institutions sensitized on Tobacco Control Act

Kohima, October 25 (DIPR): An advocacy workshop for heads of educational institutions on “proper guidance for promoting tobacco free institutions and hazards of tobacco” was held at LCS Building, Kohima on October 25. The programme was organised by District Tobacco Control Cell (DTCC), Kohima, Department of Health and Family Welfare (H&FW), Kohima.  

In the first session, Additional Director H&FW, Dr. N. Savino spoke on the topic ‘Tobacco Control Act (COTPA 2003).’ Highlighting on the Act, Dr. Savino said that the Act is applicable to all products containing tobacco in any form, which extends to whole of India. He emphasized on the main provisions of the Act which included Section-4 ‘Prohibition of smoking in specified public places’; Section-5 ‘Prohibition of advertisement, promotion and sponsorship of all tobacco products’; Section-6 (a) ‘Prohibition on sale of tobacco products to minor’ (b) ‘Prohibition on sale of tobacco products near educational institutions; and Section-7 ‘Depiction of specified health warnings on tobacco packages.’  

Dr. Savino said under Section-4, the owner, proprietor or in-charge of the public places must ensure that no astray, lighter or other things designed to facilitate smoking are provided; no person smoke and to put up No Smoking Signage as per COTPA in these public places. The owners, proprietors or in-charge of the public places must create a smoking room or area as mentioned in the provision Section 4 of the Act.  

On Section-5, he said that no person shall take part in any advertisement which directly or indirectly promotes to use or consumption of tobacco products. On Section-6, Dr. Savino said that the seller should ensure that the person who is buying the tobacco product is not a minor and a display board must be put up at the point of sale declaring that “Sale of tobacco products to minors is prohibited”. Under the Section, it is also prohibited to sale tobacco products in an area within a radius of 100 yards of any Educational Institutions where a Prohibitory Order by the Institution must be put up. On Section-7, he said that a pictorial health warning on every tobacco products pack should be displayed. He also emphasized on the penalties for violations of the Rules under the Section of COTPA. District Nodal Officer, DTCC Kohima, Dr. Arenla Walling presented the guidelines for teachers to promote tobacco free schools and colleges in the district. She highlighted on various steps for disseminating information on hazards of tobacco products, guidelines for group discussion, facilitator, how to say “No” to tobacco, suggested activity for the students and teachers to explain the facts to the students. She also highlighted on the idea of launching the smoke free ambassador cards to the students of Tobacco free Schools in Kohima district.  

She said that the main idea of the students’ ambassador card was to campaign on smoke free Kohima city which was assured to the students by the Deputy Commissioner Kohima, Rovilatuo Mor, IAS during the students’ rally for “Smoke Free Kohima City” on April 28, 2016. She also highlighted on the guidelines for “Smoke Free Student Ambassadors” card holders while implementing the exercise. Twenty number of “Smoke Free Ambassador Card” were distributed to each 16 declared Tobacco Free Schools, Colleges and Institutions during the programme.  

The advocacy programme was chaired by Assistant Professor, Simon Singsit from Oriental College Kohima who earlier welcomed all the heads of institutions and also thanked all the participants for making the programme a success.