Coordinated efforts needed for tobacco-free J&K’

Srinagar, July 29: Health officials in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday called for coordinated, multi-departmental efforts to effectively implement tobacco control laws.During an orientation program organized by the State Tobacco Control Cell, Directorate of Health Services Kashmir under the National Tobacco Control Program (NTCP) at Banquet Hall Srinagar for nodal officers, experts emphasized stricter enforcement of COTPA, public awareness, and digital tools to move toward a tobacco-free Jammu and Kashmir.Dr. Jehanzaib Tanki, Deputy Director and State Nodal Officer, NTCP, Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir, said that such programs are conducted regularly to sensitize all relevant stakeholders and train them to effectively implement tobacco control policies within their respective departments.“Under State Tobacco Control Cell, we carry out various activities including policy formulation, planning, and review meetings to monitor implementation of COTPA,” he said.Dr. Mohd. Naser, State Programme Coordinator, Tobacco Control Programme, J&K, said the role of the Tobacco Control Cell is to function as a nodal agency integrated within the government to facilitate and coordinate the programme effectively.“Tobacco control involves multiple stakeholders and requires coordination across all departments to achieve a tobacco-free Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.He said that several departments were recently asked to designate nodal officers, and this orientation program was specifically organized to equip them with knowledge about the tobacco burden, COTPA, and other tobacco control laws to ensure effective on-ground implementation.Dr. Naser emphasized that all educational institutions must clearly demarcate a 100-yard tobacco-free zone to prevent the sale of tobacco products near their premises.He also highlighted that citizens across Jammu and Kashmir can report tobacco violations through the Tobacco Monitor App, a mobile application launched by the Tobacco Control Cell, Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir.“This initiative is part of our ongoing efforts to promote a tobacco-free future and provides an online platform for reporting violations,” he said.Hilal Ahmad Mir, Assistant Commissioner, Food Safety Kashmir, stressed that both smoking and smokeless tobacco are hazardous to health and that lakhs of people fall victim to tobacco-related illnesses and die.“We are working at the grassroots level, but more needs to be done. We must actively discourage smokers and protect passive smokers,” he added.The day-long workshop was aimed at enhancing interdepartmental coordination and strengthening enforcement of key tobacco control legislations, including the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA), 2019, Juvenile Justice Act (JJA), and the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA).The event featured a distinguished lineup of speakers and panelists, including Shoket Hussain Shah, SSP, PCR Kashmir, who attended as the Guest of Honour; Dr. Jehanzaib Tanki, Deputy Director and State Nodal Officer, NTCP, Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir; and Dr. Majid Shafi, State Nodal Officer, Mental Health, Kashmir, who served as a Resource Person.Other participants included Dr. Mohd. Naser, State Programme Coordinator, Tobacco Control Program, J&K; Dr. Maria Zaffar, State Consultant, NTCP, DHSK; Dr. Syma Sidiq, Divisional Consultant, Tobacco Control Programme, J&K; Er. Zakir Hussain, State Programme Associate, Tobacco Control Program, J&K; and Muhammad Turab Qazi, Finance-cum-Administrative Officer, Tobacco Control Program, J&K.At the workshop, Rising Kashmir’s Senior Health Correspondent, Mansoor Peer, delivered a comprehensive presentation on the role of media in tobacco control and proposed innovative digital strategies to keep the public well-informed.A.K. Wani and Mr. Rahi Riyaz from the Ahsan Foundation / Voluntary Health Society represented civil society, contributing valuable grassroots perspectives to the discussion.The event witnessed active participation from key departmental representatives, including Deputy Director, Headquarters, and Deputy Director, Schemes, from Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir. Also in attendance were the Nodal Officer, School Education Department, and the Nodal Officer, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC).District Health Officers (DHOs) and District Nodal Officers from all ten districts of the Kashmir Division were present, alongside representatives from various line departments, including Police, Education, Municipalities, Food Safety, and others, highlighting a strong intersectoral collaboration in tobacco control efforts.The workshop featured the introduction and live demonstration of the newly developed TOFEI Compliance Portal, designed to enable District Nodal Officers (DNOs) from the Health and Education Departments to digitally assess and certify educational institutions as Tobacco-Free, under national guidelines.Expert sessions covered a range of critical topics, including legal frameworks, enforcement strategies, mental health implications, food safety regulations, and the importance of multi-sectoral engagement in tobacco control.Interactive discussions underscored the need for robust cross-departmental coordination and community-based interventions.