Sinlung /
29 July 2014

67.2% of Mizoram Population Use Tobacco

Aizawl, Jul 29 : As per latest Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2009 – 2010, 67.2% of Mizoram population is using tobacco. Mizoram Chief Secretary L. Tochhong, the Chairman of State Level Coordination Committee (Tobacco Control), disclosed this today in the first meeting of State Level Coordination Committee (Tobacco Control), here at Secretariat Conference Hall.

The State Level Coordination Committee declared September 11 as ‘State Anti-Tobacco Day’ which is to be observed every year from this year on, as a day of re-orienting the people on the ill-effects of tobacco.

The main objective of the state level committee is to come up with an effective plan to strengthen the fight against tobacco and to better ensure enforcement of the different sections under COTPA by government offices in the State, L. Tochhong said that it is necessary to decide over how to take steps for the forthcoming Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2014 -15.

The chief secretary said that besides the members of the committee, various government departments as well as NGOs need to put coercive efforts so that the next survey may show improvement from the present position of being the State with highest percentage in using tobacco.

President of Indian Society on Tobacco & Health (Mizoram Chapter) Lal Riliani graced the State Level Coordination Committee (Tobacco Control)’ first meeting today and speaking, she calls on the members to act more boldly in the many steps to be taken yet.  She in the meantime expressed thankfulness over the progresses that have been made so far.

The President of Indian Society on Tobacco & Health (Mizoram Chapter) added that re-awareness is necessary on no-smoking in restricted places violation of which is punishable as per law.

The State Level Coordination Committee (Tobacco Control), in its first meeting today resolved to take greater steps towards preventing the non-smoking people, especially children. It also decided to finds ways for including writings on anti-tobacco in school text books.

Sub-Committee under the guidance of Chief Secretary which shall do the needful for the observance of State Anti-Tobacco Day has also been appointed in the meeting today.  On the day of the first State Anti-Tobacco Day this year, felicitation of more progressing Districts may be held, the meeting also decided.

Besides the committee members and heads of various departments, Indian Society on Tobacco & Health (Mizoram Chapter), MHIP, MZP and MJA representatives also attended the first meeting of State Level Coordination Committee (Tobacco Control), today.

0 comments:

Post a Comment