Dimapur, May 27 (DIPR): Eight schools/institute under Dimapur district which were declared ‘Tobacco Free School’ were given certificates on May 27 during the District Level Co-ordination Committee Review meeting for the 1st quarter 2016-17 at the DC's conference hall, Dimapur.
The schools/institute are: Rev Inache Memorial Mission School, Lizwoodland School, Zakiesato Memorial Higher Secondary School, Life Foundation School, Assam Rifles High School, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Hollotoli School, and North East Institute of Social Science and Research.
Dr. C. Tetseo, DNO, NTCP said that lot of emphasis is being given on tobacco free schools to create awareness amongst the school children about the ill effects of tobacco use. "Getting certificate is not the end in itself, it is the beginning for improving and creating tobacco free environment in the school,” he maintained.
Dr. Tetseo also informed that the State Level Committee will be giving another award to all the 50 schools under Dimapur district on World No Tobacco Day 2016, which will be observed on May 31 at Christian Higher Secondary School Dimapur.
Highlighting the notification of the Ministry of H&FW 2015, Dr. Tetseo reminded that enforcement has to be more active on monitoring areas which falls under section 4 of Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products Act 2003. He also suggested joint inspection by the committee members, administration and officers time to time to see whether section 4 which talks about protection of non-smokers is complied with.
Informing on the campaign about smoke free initiative Dimapur which has already started, Dr. Tetseo was optimistic that with the support of district administration and concerned public, Dimapur may be declared as smoke free city in near future.
Veronica from Christian Hr. Secondary School Dimapur presented a report on "Being a Tobacco Free School", wherein she highlighted the initiatives taken up by the school thus making the school a "Tobacco Free School". She said that visible and positive changes could be seen and observed that use of tobacco has reduced to a great extent as a result of the initiatives taken by the school.
World No Tobacco Day on May 31
Phek: A World No Tobacco Day programme will be held on May 31, 11:00 am at DPDB Hall, Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Phek. All the Principals, Headmasters, Church leaders, GBs, NGOs of Phek Town and District Tobacco Co-ordination Committee (DTCC) Members have been requested to attend the same in order to make it inclusive and participative.
Kohima: Directorate of Health & Family Welfare is organizing a function to commemorate World No Tobacco Day on May 31, 2:00 pm at Capital Convention Centre. Minister for Health & Family Welfare, P. Longon and Minister for School Education & SCERT, Yitachu will be chief guest and guest of honour respectively.
Dimapur: In Dimapur, the DTCC will organise the official function on May 31 at Christian Higher Secondary School, where certificate will be given to 50 tobacco free schools in Dimapur district and memorandum for smoke free Dimapur initiatives will be submitted to different authorities. The DTCC will also organise month long open slogan competition on smoke free Dimapur campaign for all schools in the district. The DTCC has asked all the tobacco free schools in Dimapur to send one representative each to the function to receive the certificate. Dr C Tetseo, DNO, NTCP also requested all the schools to organise some activities to commemorate the day.
DLCC discusses strategies to implement smoke free Kohima city
Kohima: The Kohima District Level Coordination Committee (DLCC) on Tobacco Control held an emergency meeting in connection with the recent declaration of smoke-free Kohima city at DC’s conference hall on May 26.
The meeting, chaired by Deputy Commissioner & DLCC Chairman, Kohima, Rovilatuo Mor, discussed the strategies and modalities in regard to the implementation of smoke free Kohima city. The DC suggested adopting prohibition of smoking in public places as one criterion while allotting public places like local ground/State Academy Hall etc. to any organizations. He also suggested sensitization of students of tobacco free schools on smoke free Kohima city as they will be the ambassador for this campaign. He further advised the committee to come up with the guidelines and modalities for enforcement of smoke free Kohima city and present it on the World No Tobacco Day, May 31.
The members also shared various suggestions on the strategies as to how the Section-4 of COTPA 2003 Act – ‘Prohibition of smoking in public places’ can be implemented in the district. Some suggestions included giving general sensitization on the awareness starting from police and traffic personnel, public bodies/GBs/Panchayats/youth bodies and all responsible citizens, and also putting up signage boards to communicate the message in public places. It was stated that all public places/transports are responsible for enforcement of the same within their own jurisdictions.
