Manpower crunch hindrance in COTPA implementation in Kashmir: Officials

Srinagar, Jan 08: At a time when Jammu and Kashmir is high on nicotine, most of the districts in Kashmir valley lack manpower to implement Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003.
Despite having a dedicated tobacco control cell in the valley operating under the National Tobacco Control Program, numerous activities in districts are not conducted due to staff shortages.
Health department officials stated that there is a shortage of human resources at both the divisional and district levels. They added that only two districts, Jammu and Budgam, have adequate manpower.
“Due to the lack of manpower, regular enforcement drives are not held on time. Due to this people get a free hand to violate the norms of COPTA. There is a problem,” the official said.
Officials mentioned that the absence of tobacco control units in nine districts in the valley is attributed to the lack of manpower. Having these units in place could have positively impacted the situation.
“There is no staff for the tobacco control measures just like Jammu and Budgam in order to conduct the drives and implement the guidelines of the government,” he said.
He also said that the compliance of the Tobacco Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, are poor on the ground.
There is also absence of tobacco vendor licensing in the valley owing to the manpower shortage. Notably, in 2021, the Union Health Ministry has sent a letter to all State governments recommending the licensing of tobacco vendors.
As per officials there is a high prevalence of hookah bars, a new trend in the town. He also flagged the lack of coordination between various departments in poor COPTA implementation.
Due to the busy schedule of Deputy Commissioners, quarterly meetings of DLCCs are not being conducted on a timely basis.
The Union Health Ministry launched the National Tobacco Control Program in J&K in Dec 2016 and since then the NTCP has been expanded in all districts. In the same year, sale of loose cigarettes, loose beedi and loose tobacco was banned in J&K under Section 7 of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act 2003.
The program is being supported by the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease through technical and financial support. State Nodal Officer said enforcement squads have been constituted in all districts and regular enforcement drives are conducted.
As per the official figures of DHSK, during 2023-24, a total of 3,132 challans have been conducted during which an amount of Rs 4,30,000 was collected from offenders. Under cessation, 17,457 people have been counselled during 2023-24.
However, a senior official of the health department said they have sent requisition for manpower with health and medical education department.
“We have recommended the need of manpower for nine districts which would further help to carry out activities for the implementation of COPTA guidelines in letter and spirit,” he said.
J&K is sixth highest in the country after North Eastern States i.e., Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Meghalaya and Mizoram in terms of tobacco consumption as per the National Health Survey.
In 2021, a survey conducted by the Union Health Ministry which had revealed that Kashmir spends a whopping Rs 600 cr on the purchase of tobacco products annually with Srinagar, Anantnag and Baramulla districts topping the numbers.
In 2003, the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) was enacted by the Indian government to control/regulate use of tobacco and tobacco products. Despite various amendments to this law, there has not been any appreciable decrease in tobacco use.