Kohima admin. considers combating tobacco with ban on products

Our Correspondent
KOHIMA, JUNE 22

Of late, tobacco-related cancer cases have been on the rise and have awakened the Nagaland government to come up with some stringent measures to control tobacco consumption in the state.
Likewise, the district administration of Kohima will soon bring about measures for effective control of tobacco consumption.
It is quite alarming when Nagaland with just a population of about 20 lakh is considered the second highest tobacco consuming state in India. Nagaland with 57 per cent comes next to Mizoram which is the highest user of tobacco in India with a record of 67 per cent of its population. Goa is at the lowest end of the scale at barely nine per cent.
Interacting with media persons this afternoon at his office chamber, Deputy Commissioner of Kohima Rovilato Mor, while highlighting on the scenario of tobacco consumption in the State, underlined the need for effective implementation of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003 in the State and called for compliance with the Rules and Act of COTPA.Under the COTPA 2003, there is prohibition of smoking in public places. There is also prohibition of sale of tobacco product to or by person below 21 years (Earlier, below 18 years). The act also applies to prohibition of sale of tobacco product in and around 100 yards (300 ft approx) of any educational institutions and prohibition of advertisement of tobacco product in any manner.
“Going by statistics, the consumption of tobacco is increasing each year in the state. This is a serious issue which concerns everyone,” Mor said. “It’s time we come up with clear policies and measures to combat its consumption,” he added.
“There is no tobacco cultivation/industry in the state, so there won’t be any displacement of tobacco work forces,” he said adding that there will be lesser hurdles to bring down consumption percentage.
Mentioning about COTPA 2003, he suggested for ban of sale and consumption of any form of tobacco products during public gathering or meetings. The same act is also to be applied during games and sports activities and festivals.
According to a data on district-wise tobacco profile, Dimapur tops the chart with 24,000 (approx) tobacco consumers, followed by Kohima district with 9,000 (approx). Going by consumption, all the other districts comes below 5,000 with Longleng and Kiphire placed at the lowest.
The number of OPD patients in Dimapur due to tobacco consumption also comes above 8,000, followed by Kohima with 3,000 plus (both approx).
According to Nagaland School Oral Health survey in 2014, the number of smokeless users is 28.3 per cent, whereas smoking percentage is 14.8. The number of children buying tobacco for parents has also gone up to 41.2 per cent.
The number of school children smoking stand at 37 %, while the number of male and female smokers stands at 55% and 18% respectively. For male smokeless users, the statistics stands at 50% and female at 33%.
The meeting was also attended by representatives from the department of Health & Family Welfare.