Shopian, Feb 14: Additional Deputy Commissioner Shopian, Yar Ali Khan on Tuesday directed for displaying of mandatory prominent signage boards across the district, especially near institutions, denouncing the use of tobacco products. He called for strict action against retailers promoting tobacco use through surrogate advertising.
Chairing a district-level coordination committee meeting here at Mini Secretariat, the ADC emphasised conducting intensive IEC activities across the district for the dissemination of information on the adverse impacts of tobacco use. He called for increasing challans against the violations of the COPTA Act, 2003.
The meeting was conducted in order to review the Action Taken to date toward the furtherance of a tobacco-free society and to discuss and approve the future plan of action against the implementation of the COPTA Act.
CMO Shopian, Dr Arshid presented an overview of the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), while an expert from DHSK presented a discussion on the agenda points.
On the occasion, directions were given for making all government institutions and private premises ‘Tobacco Free Zones’ and all educational institutions ‘tobacco free educational institutions’, as per the guidelines.
Feasibility of vendor licensing was also discussed in the meeting which was attended by ASP, Ifroz Ahmad, CMO, Dr. Arshid, CEO, Mohd Mushtaq DIO, STO, EO MC, ADP and others concerned besides a team of specialists from the Directorate of Health Services Kashmir (DHSK).
