DIPR
Senapati, May 2,
The District Health Society, Senapati today organised a one day Orientation on the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) for the District Stakeholder at DRDA Conference Hall. The Resource Person of today’s programme were Smt. A. Koshia, Additional Public Prosecutor, Senapati and Dr.SomorjitNingombam, State Nodal Officer for NTCP.
A. Koshia speaking on the Tobacco and its Legal Aspect, she stated that the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 enacted by the Parliament on the 54th year of Republic of India was to prohibit the advertisement of, and to provide the regulation of Trade and Commerce in, and production, supply and distribution of, cigarettes and other Tobacco Products matter concerning therewith or incidental thereto. The Act commenced on 1st May, 2003 received the assent of the President of India on the 18th May, 2003, she added. She mentioned that the Resolution passed by 39th World Health Assembly (WHO) in its fourteenth Plenary meeting on 15th May, 1986 urged the member to implement measures to ensure the effective protection to non- smokers from involuntary exposure to tobacco and protect children and young people from being addicted in the use of tobacco. Meanwhile, 43rd World Health Assembly in its Fourteenth Plenary meeting on the 17th May, 1990 show concerned for tobacco control and strategies plan for legislation and other effectiveness measures for protecting risk groups such as pregnant women and children from involuntary exposure, discourage its uses and impose progressive restrictions by eliminating all direct and indirect advertisement, promotion and sponsorship concerning tobacco.
She also highlighted the provision of the Act such as, prohibition of smoking tobacco in public places (except in special smoking zones in hotels, restaurants and airports) and open place. She further clarified open spaces to the spaces visited by the public; Advertisement of tobacco products and its product in any form and including surrogated advertisement is prohibited; Tobacco products cannot be sold to person under the 18 years of age and within the 100 metres radius of educational institution; Tobacco must be sold which shall contain an appropriate pictorial warnings of a skull or scorpion or certain prescribed pictorial warning along with the test SMOKING KILLS and TOBACCO CAUSES MOUTH CANCER both in Hindi and English; A persons manufacturing tobacco products and fails to adhere of warning on first convictions shall punished with 2 years imprisonment or fine extending to Rs. 5000 and in subsequent conviction will punished to 5 years imprisonment or fine extending to Rs. 10000; Smoking in public place, selling tobacco to minors, or selling tobacco product within 100 metres from any educational institution shall be Rs. 200; The Act repealed The Cigarettes (Regulation of Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 1975; and, The owner/ manager/ in- charge of a public place must a board containing a warning “No Smoking Area- Smoking here is an offence”. Places of tobacco product sold area must display appropriate messages like “Tobacco causes Cancer” and “Sales of tobacco products to a person under the age of eighteen years is punishable”.
Dr. SomorjitNingombam, State Nodal Officer, NTCP speaking on the Ill effect of Tobacco, he said that the Manipur ranked 3rdin the consumption of tobacco and its product in India. About 55% of adult in the state used tobacco spending an average of Rs. 350 in a month by an individual.
He also said that tobacco is one of the common risk factors of major NC Diseases i.e. Cancer, CVD killing 6 million people every year while 0.6 million faced premature death due to passive smoking. In India, tobacco kills 8-9 lakhs people every year. 2,500 Indian die every day of tobacco related diseases. 89% of smokers become addicted to tobacco by the age of 18 years, he added
He mentioned that smokers have 20-25 times risk of developing lung cancer; 2-3 time risk of having heart attack; 3 time risk of sudden death and, 30-60 more sick days.
According to Global Adult Tobacco Survey, 275 million adults in India (15yrs and above) nearly 35% of the population consume tobacco; 206 million used smokeless tobacco (Khani, gutkha, 25.9% adults; smoking in the form Bidi (9.2%) and cigarette (5.7%); the initiation of tobacco use begin from 17- 18 yrs; Exposure to second hand smoke remains high with 52.3% at home and 29% at public place.
He highlighted that the cancer caused by tobacco consumption are found in mouth, throat, lungs, larynx, foodpipe, urinary bladder, kidney, pancreas and cervix. He also highlighted that smokeless contains 3095 chemical in which 28 are carcinogens and heavy metals causing cancer on oral cavity esophagus, stomach pancreas and throat.
He also highlighted some of the specific provisions of the COPTA provisions and give the guidelines to the members present today.
Somorjit Salam, IAS, DC Senapati who also participated in the programme thanksthe member present for co- operating the programme successful. He also said that the Act which has been passed will be implanting soon in the district. The District Health Society, Senapati also conducted blood test, sugar test, liver and kidney function test to the people who attended the programme today. The DLOs and SDOs of the district attended today’s programme.
