Government on Friday constituted an apex level coordination committee to implement National Tobacco Control Programme and Provisions of Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) in the newly carved Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
An order issued bythe General Administration Department said that the sixteen member committeewould be headed by the J&K Chief Secretary, BVR Subramanyam.
The committeecomprises of Administrative Secretary, Health and Medical Education Departmentor Mission Director, National Health Mission as Member Secretary,Administrative Secretary, Home Department or his nominee, AdministrativeSecretary, Transport Department, Transport Commissioner or his nominee,Administrative Secretary, Information Department or his nominee, AdministrativeSecretary, School Education Department or his nominee, AdministrativeSecretary, Labour and Employment Department/Labour Commissioner or his nominee,Administrative Secretary, Agriculture Production Department or his nominee, AdministrativeSecretary, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department or his nominee,Administrative Secretary of Higher Education Department or his nominee,Administrative Secretary, Department of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairsor the nominee, Commissioner, Food and Drugs Administration, DistrictMagistrate, Jammu/Srinagar, Representative of Railways, and civil societyorganisations working on health/tobacco control or their nominee.
This committee willimplement National Tobacco Control Programmes (NTCP), monitor Tobacco ControlLaws (COTPA), Information, Education and Communication activities (IEC)programmes. “The panel will rope in panchs and sarpanchs to create awarenessabout the ill effects of tobacco in rural areas,” an official said, adding thatbesides roping in Panchayat representatives, members of NGOs, health, socialworkers and teachers will be invited to join the campaign against the illeffects of tobacco.