The sub-committee for 'smoke free Kohima city' held its first meeting in Kohima Municipal Council's Conference Hall on 25th March 2021. The meeting was chaired by the sub-committee Convenor & SDO (C) Sadar, Kohima, Daniel Angami.
The Convenor informed the members that the sub-committee was constituted during the District Level Coordination Committee (DLCC) meeting of District Tobacco Control Cell, Kohima held on 25th November 2020. He said that the Committee was constituted to initiate 'smoke free Kohima city', where he invited the members to contribute their views and suggestions for the successful implementation of the exercise.
State Nodal Officer (National Tobacco Control Program (NTCP), Dr. C. Tetso who was also present in the meeting said that the whole idea of smoke free was to make the city a healthier place. Informing that the Department plans to launch campaign for smoke free in all district headquarters starting from April 2021, he suggested as Kohima being the capital of the state to initiate earlier and set a good example to other districts as well. He also shared his suggestion made during a meeting with Kohima Smart City, to incorporate 'smoke free Kohima city' in Kohima Smart City' Project. Dr. Tetso further informed that the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lungs diseases is scheduled to visit Kohima and Wokha this year to survey the implementation of COTPA, as such he called upon the committee to strengthen the activities in the district.
District Nodal Officer ), Kohima Dr. Arenla Walling also informed that during the awareness rally on health hazards of tobacco, particularly on smoking tobacco on 28th April 2016, declaration was made for making Kohima city' free from tobacco smokes for greener, healthy and safe future. And in pursuance of the declaration, the DLCC in its consultative meeting held on 26th May 2016 had chalked out the guidelines and action plan for effective implementation of 'smoke free Kohima city' as envisage under COTPA 2003.
Dr. Arenla further presented the guidelines and action plan of 'smoke free Kohima city' where she informed that some activities have been carried out keeping in line with the guidelines.
Other members also shared their views and suggestions for the implementation of 'smoke free Kohima city', and decided to initiate the exercise with all the District Offices, management people of public places, pledge for Government servant and more sensitization Programme with the Angami Women Organization, Angami Youth Organisation and Kohima Village Youth Organisation to be the ambassador in their respective areas for the successful implementation of the 'smoke free Kohima city'.
(DPRO, Kohima)
