Our Correspondent
Kohima | April 28
Kohima Deputy Commissioner Rovilatuo Mor today declared Kohima as ‘Smoke Free City.’ During a campaign for Smoke Free Kohima City organised by District Tobacco Control Cell (DTCC), Department of Health and Family Welfare today at Old MLA Hostel junction here, 22 tobacco free schools of the State capital held placards, some of which read ‘Show your care by making a difference’, ‘Burn calories not cigarette’, ‘Consume your ego not tobacco’, ‘Tobacco companies kill their best customers’ etc. They also shouted slogans like ‘Make Kohima a Smoke Free city’ and ‘Breathe Healthy, Live Happy’.
Addressing the gathering, Mor declared Kohima as Smoke Free City. He also invited the 22 schools to be ambassadors in transforming Kohima into a smoke free city while also stating that guidelines and rules for adherence by public and enforcement by the district administration and police would be brought out without delay.
The DC made the announcement following a representation submitted by the 22 tobacco free schools as part of the campaign.
Through the representation, the schools while maintaining that school children are exposed to smoking directly or indirectly, appealed to the authorities to protect the children from tobacco hazards.
The representation also maintained that the Government of India has considered Kohima to be a Smart City even as the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has suggested ‘Smoke Free’ as one of the important criteria in the selection process of the same.
Therefore, the students urged the District Administration to declare Kohima as Smoke Free Nagaland Capital to reduce the level of health hazards for common people and particularly children community from exposure to second-hand smoke.
Delivering the keynote address, Joint Director of Health & Family Welfare Department, Nagaland, and State Nodal Officer NTCP, Dr. Hotokhu Chishi stated that Tobacco was the only legal product available in the market that kills 50% of its users.
He stated that Nagaland State ranks the second highest in the country with 57% of Tobacco Users, where 28% of School children are tobacco chewers, 14% are smokers and 41% of children buy tobacco products for their parents, relatives and elders. He added that a tobacco product contains 4000 chemicals which destroy any part of the body and causes death to one million people in India every year.
He urged the parents to stop sending their children to buy tobacco products in order to protect their children and also appealed citizens to fight against tobacco by not smoking at home and in public transport and public places.
A student each from Mount Sinai Higher Secondary School Kohima and Government HSS Seikhazou delivered short speeches on the topics ‘Harmful effects of tobacco’ and ‘My vision for a smoke free Kohima’ respectively. Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) administrator Kovi Meyase chaired the programme.
