Nagaland Mengujuma Village, 3 schools in Kma declared tobacco-free

Mengujuma Village and three educational institutions—GMS Mengujuma, GMS Phesama, and Modern Higher Secondary School, Kohima—were officially declared tobacco-free and awarded certificates during the District Level Coordination Committee (DLCC) meeting of the District Tobacco Control Cell (DTCC), Kohima, held at the Deputy Commissioner’s Conference Hall on October 28.
Chairing the meeting, Deputy Commissioner Kohima and DLCC Chairman, B. Henok Buchem, expressed concern over the increasing exposure of children to tobacco at an early age. He underscored the pivotal role of teachers in shaping student awareness and behaviour, and reminded that the Governor has empowered police personnel from the rank of Head Constable and teachers to act as enforcement officers under Section 6(b) of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, which prohibits sale of tobacco products within 100 metres of educational institutions.
Buchem urged teachers to actively engage students on the harmful effects of tobacco and emphasized that enforcement officers are authorized to inspect, seize, impose fines, and investigate violations. He also informed that the Education Department will issue a notification to revamp tobacco squads and constitute task forces in all schools for stricter monitoring.
Presenting the activity report, DTCC Kohima Social Worker, Achila Walling, highlighted that the first quarterly DLCC meeting was held on May 1, 2025, during which 13 schools were declared tobacco-free. An enforcement drive on May 14 in southern Kohima led to fines against 29 violators, with seized items destroyed on May 27. Awareness programmes were conducted at Mt. Hermon Higher Secondary School and Modern Higher Secondary School, while a poster-making competition was held on May 29 to mark World No Tobacco Day.
The World No Tobacco Day programme was observed on May 31 at Dr. Neilhousou Kire GHSS Auditorium with Dr. Reyosalu Lase Vizo, Joint Director (Dental), as special guest. Awareness drives continued from June to October across institutions including Crestview School, St. John School, Christ King Higher Secondary School, Baptist College, Vinyuzo Higher Secondary School, and Baptist High, Kohima.
Multiple enforcement drives in both northern and southern jurisdictions resulted in fines and seizure of tobacco products under Section 6(b) of COTPA. DTCC, in collaboration with OST Centre, NHAK, also initiated counselling, smokerlyzer tests, and Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) from August, conducted every first and third Thursday. A total of 159 patients were counselled at the Tobacco Cessation Centre (TCC) from May to October.
District Nodal Officer, DTCC Kohima, Dr. Neingutunuo, presented on Tobacco Vendor Licensing (TVL) and Tobacco-Free Declaration. She reiterated that Mengujuma Village and the three schools were declared tobacco-free during the meeting and highlighted that India loses approximately 14 lakh lives annually to tobacco-related diseases, with initiation often occurring between ages 8 and 10.
She emphasized that TVL requires vendors to obtain licenses from municipal or local authorities to sell tobacco products, thereby regulating sales, protecting minors, and ensuring compliance with COTPA. She informed that Nagaland introduced a TVL policy on February 6, 2024, under the Empowered Committee’s decision, authorizing Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to implement vendor licensing with active municipal officer involvement.
Discussions during the meeting focused on enforcement, awareness generation, and vendor licensing as key strategies to curb tobacco use.