The District Level Coordination Committee (DLCC) under the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) convened a meeting at the DC’s Conference Hall, Zunheboto on 2nd July 2025. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Commissioner, Zunheboto, Dharam Raj, IAS.
Deputy Commissioner, in his address, highlighted recent seizures of illegal liquor, drugs, and tobacco products in the district. He urged the Zunheboto Town Council to conduct awareness programmes and take stringent action against illegal vendors operating in residential colonies. He also emphasized the need for geo-tagging and mapping of all licensed shops within the town.
“Selling tobacco is not a crime unless it is sold within 100 yards of an educational institution,” he stated. He further recommended that permission to sell tobacco products should not be granted to pharmacies, bakeries, grocery stores, toy shops, and stationery stores.
The Deputy Commissioner called for regular inspections and enforcement drives to be conducted fortnightly and stressed the importance of installing signboards in front of shops to display tobacco regulations.
District Nodal Officer of the NTCP, Dr. K. Rosy Yhome, presented an overview of the activities undertaken by the NTCP and the National Tobacco Control Cell (NTCC) Zunheboto since 2019. She emphasized efforts to promote tobacco-free institutions, villages, health units, and homes, and highlighted the provisions of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA).
During the event, several schools were recognized and awarded for being tobacco-free. These included Cedar School, Aghunato Town; Bright Wave School, Tokiye Town; Government Middle School (GMS) Tokiye Village; Government High School, Satami Village; GMS Shevishe Village and GMS Keltomi Village.
(IA Zunheboto)
