YUPIA, 3 Aug: Papum Pare Deputy Commissioner Hage Mamu called for intensified information, education and communication (IEC) activities through educational institutions, panchayati raj institutions, bazaar welfare committees and other stakeholders against tobacco use, stating that tobacco control awareness must reach the grassroots through sustained community participation.

Chairing a District Level Coordination Committee (DLCC) meeting on the implementation of the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, and the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA), 2019 at her office here on Monday, the deputy commissioner stressed the need to strengthen enforcement, and directed the district nodal officer for NTCP and COTPA, Dr Lobsang Chuki, to notify the authorised officers empowered to enforce Section 4 of the COTPA Act, to enable them to impose and collect fines for violations related to smoking in public places.

She also directed that the notified list of authorised officers, along with their contact details, be made public to facilitate reporting of violations by citizens.

SP Taru Gusar suggested installation of COTPA signages at prominent public places across the district, and recommended regular enforcement drives and inspections to ensure effective implementation of the Act and discourage tobacco use.

Earlier Dr Chuki presented the operational guidelines for law enforcers under the NTCP, and briefed the members on the objectives of the programme, the responsibilities of the DLCC, and the key provisions of Sections 4, 6 and 7 of the COTPA Act, 2003.

She informed that tobacco claims over 1.3 million lives annually in India, accounting for nearly 3,500 deaths every day, and highlighted the services available at the Tobacco Cessation Centre (TCC) at the  Doimukh CHC, which provides counselling and nicotine replacement therapy to help tobacco users quit the habit.

Representatives from educational institutions sought support in the form of resource persons for conducting awareness programmes, while members of the bazaar welfare committees assured of their full cooperation in implementing tobacco control measures across the district.

As part of the programme, Lopa Kena, psychologist at the Tobacco Cessation Centre, demonstrated the use of nicotine replacement therapy, including nicotine gums and patches.

The meeting was attended by representatives of schools and colleges, Government Degree College Doimukh, bazaar welfare committees, the Departments of Health, Education and Narcotics, the district food and civil supplies officer, the district agriculture officer, the ICDS deputy director, the trade development officer, and other members of the DLCC. (DIPRO)