Nagaland’s capital Kohima was on Friday declared as a ‘smoke-free city’.
The official declaration was made by Kohima district Deputy Commissioner
Rovilatuo Mor during a campaign for ‘Smoke Free Kohima City’.
Guidelines for adherence by public and enforcement by the district administration and police would be brought out soon.Rovilatuo Mor, Deputy Commissioner
The campaign in which students of 22 schools took part was organised
by District Tobacco Control Cell under the Department of Health and
Family Welfare. The students were carrying placards bearing anti-tobacco slogans.
Interestingly, the memorandum addressed to the DC of Kohima states that in order to be eligible for selection process of Smart City mission, this step was mandatory. As per the report, the it is vital for a city to have 20 tobacco-free schools, one college and one institution are Smoke-free.
In addition to that, the Joint Director of Health and Family Welfare Department of Nagaland, Dr Hotokhu Chisi highlighted the state’s high smoking population numbers, at 57 percent. This has left school children badly exposed to the ill effects of smoking, hence the call to make Kohima, Smoke-free was more than warranted.
(With PTI inputs)
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