Shopkeepers attend workshop on tobacco control
Kohima, August 24 (DIPR): Community awareness on tobacco control was held with shopkeepers under the theme “Choose life not tobacco” at Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) conference hall, Kohima on August 24.
Speaking on the occasion, ADC Lithrongla said that the shopkeepers selling tobacco products should put up signboards outside the shop. Pointing out that selling of tobacco to children below 18 years of age is an offence and offenders will be fined, she further informed that selling of tobacco near schools and colleges are prohibited even with the signboard. People selling tobacco near the prohibited area will be fined.
Speaking on the harmful effects of tobacco and Cigarette and Other Tobacco Product Act (COTPA 2003), District Nodal Officer for Tobacco Control, Dr. Arenla Walling stated that tobacco is the foremost preventable cause of disease and death in the world today. She highlighted that tobacco is the world’s leading single agent of death with 5.4 million people killed by tobacco every year globally. She also stressed on the tobacco scenario in Nagaland, prohibition of smoking in public places, prohibition of advertisement of tobacco and prohibition of sale of tobacco products within 100 yards of any educational institution. She asked the shopkeepers selling tobacco products to display signage at a conspicuous place and instructed the trainees to put up warning in an applicable Indian language to raise awareness to the people.
KMC Administrator, Kovi Meyase urged the shopkeepers’ community to co-operate with each other to work hand in hand to achieve a target of pollution free city for a better place to live in. He also gave away the certificates of COTPA to all the shopkeepers (trainees) and informed them that signboards for shops would be printed out in the KMC office. Altogether, 25 trainees attended the workshop.
