To discourage uses of tobacco and its product, deputy commissioner, Imphal East, Khumanthem Daina Devi reconstituted District Level Coordination Committee (DLCC), District Level Joint Enforcement Squad Team (DLJEST) and Sub-Divisional Joint Enforcement Squad Team (SDLJEST) under National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP).
She was speaking at the reconstitution and orientation programme at the conference hall of superintendent of police, Imphal East district on Friday.
The programme was organized by the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), District Health Society, Imphal East.
Daina stressed on the need for making behavioral changes to discourage the use of tobacco products. Police, education department, NGOs and media are taking a major role to make the DLCC; DLJEST and SDLJEST function, she said.
To discourage the use of tobacco and related products, the Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution Act (COTPA), 2003 is functioning across the country, she added.
Under section 4 of the Act ‘smoking in public places is prohibited and is a punishable offence’, she said. She pointed out that Section 5 says that ‘direct/indirect advertisements of tobacco products including sponsorship and promotion are prohibited and is a punishable offence’, etc.
She further said the enforcement squad of respective committees should conduct drives against tobacco while collective efforts are needed from the public in order to discourage use of tobacco and its product.
As a part of the programme district nodal officer, NTCP, Thoubal district, gave a trusty awareness speech on NTCP.
