District Level Coordination Committee (DLCC) of the National Tobacco Control Program reviewed the implementation and enforcement of the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Product Act (COTPA) in the district on May 22.

DC, Kargil also the Chairman of the District Level Coordination Committee (DLCC) of the National Tobacco Control Program Santosh Sukhadeve directed the concerned officers of the Police, Health, and Education Departments to chalk out a collective and effective plan for the implementation of COTPA and against the tobacco menace in the district.

The concerned officer from DIPR Kargil was asked to start a campaign in the local language and spread awareness among the general public against the ill effects of tobacco use. ALC Kargil was asked to hold special programs at various workplaces where labourers are working in large numbers and aware of them. 

DY SP Kargil was asked to strictly monitor the shopkeepers that sell tobacco products within the 100-meter vicinity of the school area. He also directed to impose a fine on shopkeepers found selling tobacco products to minors and to identify defaulters and fine them if found smoking in public places. The police personnel was asked to mobilize and keep regular vigilance in the market areas and make public places smoking-free.

While expressing concern over the involvement of minors and school-going children in tobacco use, DC Kargil directed CEO Kargil and the Principal’s of various schools to hold awareness programs in schools to aware children of the ill effects of tobacco.

DC also appealed to the people of Kargil particularly the shopkeepers to desist from the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products and save the younger generation from the ill effects of the tobacco products. He also directed to hold creative awareness programs like paintings, essay writing, skits, etc. to aware students of the negative effects of tobacco and drugs in daily lives.

A discussion was held to chalk out a plan to ensure the visible impact of the implementation of COTPA on the ground through effective surveillance, feedback mechanism, and taking timely measures to curb the menace of tobacco products.