By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 22: The Health department has called for a united effort, similar to the fight against COVID-19, to make Meghalaya a tobacco-free state.
Speaking at the State Level Observation of Tobacco-Free Meghalaya 2025, organised by the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) on Thursday, Health and Family Welfare Department Additional Secretary, Ramakrishna Chitturi, stressed the need for collective action involving community leaders to curb the sale of tobacco near schools.
Pointing out that many children are misled by the portrayal of tobacco use in films, where it is often glamorised as heroic, he said, “This is a major reason why young people adopt the habit.”
Urging students to educate their families about the dangers of tobacco, Chitturi said that the diseases caused by its use not only harm health but also drain family income due to medical expenses.
“We must work together to eliminate this harmful habit and prevent multiple health problems,” he said.
On the other hand, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ivan Benson Diengdoh also underlined the importance of awareness programmes to highlight both the dangers of tobacco and the provisions of the COTPA Act.
He called for its strict enforcement, noting that Section 6(B) of the law prohibits the sale of tobacco within 100 yards of educational institutions.
Currently, violators are fined Rs 200, but Diengdoh argued that the penalty is too minimal and suggested raising it to Rs 1 lakh to effectively discourage violations.
He also called for collective action to reduce tobacco use, warning that it harms not only individuals but also families and society at large.
During the programme, police stations that had made significant seizures against offenders, along with schools, students, blocks and other contributors, were felicitated.
It may be mentioned that the event was held under the theme ‘My Meghalaya–Tobacco-Free Meghalaya’.
