NONGSTOIN, Feb 4: A capacity building workshop for officials of departments for effective coordination and enforcement of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Prevention Act (COTPA) was held at the Bishop Hall, Tiehsaw, Nongstoin, on Thursday.
Speaking on the occasion, West Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner, T Lyngwa, said, “It is time to wake up and realise the ill-effects of tobacco, which has enslaved people”.
He informed that the West Khasi Hills district administration has banned smoking in buses in the past years, while calling upon the public to join hands with the administration to eradicate the menace.
Seeking special attention of various stakeholders including the local Dorbar, the DC urged them to help in disseminating awareness on the ill-effects of tobacco use. On the other hand, Dr Lana E Lyngdoh, State Nodal Officer NTCP, Meghalaya, highlighted the objectives of the workshop.
The workshop was organised by NEIGRIHMS and District Tobacco Cell of the Centre’s National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), WKH, in collaboration with Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases and the Bloomberg Initiative.
The workshop-cum-training was attended by school teachers, headmen, Sordar, Rangbah Shnong, police among others.