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Dimapur, Aug. 16 (EMN): Deputy Commissioner of Mon, Thavaseelan K, on Monday launched a smoke-free district headquarters campaign at the DC’s conference room in Mon. The launch was held along with the district-level coordination committee review meeting.
Speaking at the launch, the DC stressed on the importance of making people aware about the harms of ‘second hand smoking’ (passive smoking) and expressed hope that through the campaign, people smoking at home would be made aware of the harms that they are causing to their loved ones. He stated that the public should be made aware that it was a crime to smoke in public as per Section 4 of the Copta 2003, a DIPR update informed.
Nodal officer, NTCP Mon, Dr. I Simon Sumi highlighted some of the aims and objectives of the campaign which included creating awareness of the harmful effects of smoking and smoking in public places, sensitising people on Section 4 of Copta 2003, which bans and penalises smoking in public places, and encouraging people to quit smoking. He also laid down the strategies for the campaign such as sensitising all HoDs, district anti-tobacco squads, regular enforcement drives, advocacy with NGOs, civil society, church and schools as campaign ambassadors, it informed.
The committee deliberated on the activities for the campaign in matters of leaflets/pamphlets, videos on harmful effects of smoking and legal penalties, posting of signage in offices, institutions and across strategic locations in the town, and choosing the right school for the campaign ambassador. With 11 schools in the town declared as tobacco-free, the committee also deliberated on making more educational institutions and schools across the district tobacco-free.
Meanwhile, St. Joseph's School Mon received a tobacco-free school certificate, it added.