The District Level Coordination Committee (DLCC) under the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) on Thursday reviewed the implementation of tobacco control measures in Dimapur district, with members stressing the need for stronger community participation, enhanced enforcement and greater inter-departmental coordination to create a tobacco-free environment.

The meeting, held at the office chamber of the Additional Deputy Commissioner, was chaired by Additional Deputy Commissioner, Dr Diana Patton, and attended by representatives from various government departments, educational institutions, law enforcement agencies and civil society organisations.

Welcoming the newly inducted members, Dr Patton highlighted the crucial role of women and civil society organisations in advancing tobacco control initiatives. She observed that women play a pivotal role in addressing social issues at the grassroots level and noted that Nagaland’s community-based social structure makes the participation of civil society organisations indispensable for the success of tobacco control programmes.

She urged civil society organisations to incorporate awareness programmes on the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, not only in educational institutions but also in villages and communities. While noting that the Government has already constituted enforcement squads for effective implementation of tobacco control laws, she said their success depends largely on active public cooperation.

“Without community participation, even the best programmes cannot achieve the desired results,” she said, calling on all stakeholders to work collectively towards building a tobacco-free society.

Presenting the district’s tobacco control status, District Nodal Officer, National Tobacco Control Programme, Dr Esther Chophy, called for stronger enforcement and greater support from the district administration to ensure effective implementation of tobacco control measures.

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She said sustained awareness campaigns, enforcement drives and community participation have contributed to a steady decline in tobacco consumption in Nagaland. Citing findings from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), Dr Chophy said overall tobacco use in the State declined from 56.8 per cent in 2009-10 to 43.3 per cent in 2016-17. During the same period, smoking prevalence dropped from 31.5 per cent to 13.2 per cent, while the use of smokeless tobacco declined from 45.3 per cent to 39 per cent.

Highlighting the key provisions of the COTPA Act, 2003, she reminded members that the law prohibits smoking in public places, bans the sale of tobacco products to and by minors, and prohibits the sale of tobacco products within 100 yards of educational institutions.

Dr Chophy appealed to schools, parents and community members not to send children to purchase tobacco products and stressed the importance of regular enforcement drives in collaboration with the police and district administration.

Expressing concern over inadequate funding, she informed the committee that the programme currently receives only ₹10,000 for a three-month period, which she said is insufficient to conduct regular inspections and enforcement activities. She appealed to the district administration for additional financial and logistical support to strengthen tobacco control efforts.

She also highlighted achievements under the Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) initiative, informing the committee that 151 educational institutions in Dimapur district have been declared tobacco-free, including 138 schools and 13 colleges. In addition, four villages in the district have also achieved tobacco-free status, reflecting increasing community participation in tobacco control initiatives.

During the meeting, members reviewed the implementation of the National Tobacco Control Programme in the district and discussed measures to strengthen enforcement of the COTPA Act. The committee also deliberated on improving inter-departmental coordination, intensifying public awareness campaigns on the harmful effects of tobacco use and ensuring stricter compliance with tobacco control regulations.