DAPORIJO, Dec 12: Upper Subansiri DC (in-charge) Tage Tatung emphasized on creating awareness among the public and the traders on the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), and on the ill-effects of tobacco consumption.
He said this while chairing a district-level coordination committee (DLCC) meeting organised by the district tobacco control cell (DTCC) here in Upper Subansiri district on Wednesday.
Besides HoDs and the principals of the Government Degree College and the government higher secondary school, the secretary of the market committee attended the meeting.
Tatung asked government departments to erect ‘No smoking’ boards in their office premises. He directed all educational institutes to erect signboards displaying the contents of the COTPA, 2003, and advised the tax & excise department to identify shops that sell tobacco products without proper licence.
DMO Dr T Taki urged the members of the DLCC to “work together and help make Upper Subansiri a tobacco-free district.”
DTCC consultant Tasso Yanku made a presentation on the COTPA, detailing the provisions to be implemented to control the rising tobacco use, while NCD district programme coordinator, Dikram Nasi, made a presentation on the roles and responsibilities of the DLCC members.
DDSE Tape Jeram expressed concern over the growing use of tobacco by youths, and advocated conducting “regular surprise drives” to keep in check the availability of tobacco products in shops. (DIPRO)
