Shillong, August 8: The Meghalaya government has ramped up its efforts towards a ‘Tobacco-Free Meghalaya’ initiative. On Friday, officials highlighted significant progress in tobacco control through schools, colleges, and village institutions, urging greater youth participation to curb tobacco use.
During a state-level awareness program themed ‘Tobacco: A Trade of Death,’ organized under the National Tobacco Control Program (NTCP) by the National Health Mission (NHM), senior government officials, educators, law enforcement agencies, and students gathered to discuss the issue.
Ramkumar S., Secretary of Health and Family Welfare and NHM Mission Director, emphasized that tobacco poses serious long-term health risks to users. He stressed the importance of youth involvement, noting that the campaign has made a positive impact by reaching schools and calling for widespread public participation.
With over 60% of Meghalaya’s population under the age of 25, he urged coordinated efforts from various departments and stakeholders to expand awareness campaigns across all district headquarters.
Abhilash Barnwal, Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills, encouraged young people to resist peer pressure and avoid experimenting with tobacco. He stated that true courage lies in saying no to harmful habits and urged students to help their friends stay away from tobacco products.
Richa Kulkarni, Director of School Education and Literacy, reported that the ‘Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions’ initiative has reached nearly 600,000 students across more than 10,000 schools statewide. Early intervention through schools has empowered students to emerge as health ambassadors, contributing significantly to Meghalaya’s strong performance in tobacco control.
Additional Superintendent of Police Ivan Diengdoh highlighted the provisions of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), reminding participants that smoking in public places, advertising tobacco, and selling tobacco to minors are legally prohibited.
Nabnita D. Mauri, a senior dentist with the NTCP, noted that the ‘Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions’ initiative has covered approximately 85% of schools across all 11 districts over the past five years, involving over 28,000 teachers and 730,000 students. Additionally, 83% of colleges have become tobacco-free, and more than 1,050 Village Health Councils are actively implementing tobacco control measures.
The event concluded with awards presented to outstanding schools, Village Health Councils, students, police units, and district administration, reaffirming the commitment to work towards a tobacco-free Meghalaya.
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