Imphal: A training for law enforcers on the Cigarettes And Other Tobacco Products Act (Cotpa), 2003, organised by the National Health Mission, Manipur, was held at Sangai Hotel, Nagamapal, here on Wednesday.

Somorjit Ningombam, state nodal officer of the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTPC), said, "The Cotpa was enacted by the Centre to protect people from the health hazards of tobacco. It prohibits smoking in public places, advertisements of cigarettes and other tobacco products, selling of tobacco products to a person aged under 18 years, and in educational institution areas and selling of cigarettes and other tobacco products without specified health warnings. Violation of the Cotpa is liable for penalties. To facilitate effective implementation of the tobacco control law, the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) was launched in 2007-08 but was enacted in 2010 in Manipur."

He said the programme aims to reduce second-hand tobacco smoke, a serious public health challenge, and help the tobacco users quit smoking and using other tobacco products.

For effective implementation of the programme, a state-level coordination committee has been formed with the chief secretary as chairman in July 2017-18 to reduce the menace of tobacco in the state.

Enforcement staff are formed at state, district and block levels. The programme is yet to get its momentum as enforcement of the Cotpa requires inter-sectorial departmental coordination.

The training for the law enforcers is an initial step in banning tobacco-related products in the state since its inception, an organiser said.

The trained enforcement squads will look into areas where tobacco are sold and steps will be taken up to create awareness about the Cotpa provisions, Ningombam said.

Specified signage will be put up at public places, health institutes and educational institutes among others to make the programme a success. The NTCP cell will work with the NGO partners to create awareness.

He added that people, who want to quit smoking, can contact the State Tobacco Control Cell at Regional Institute of Medical Sciences here.

The state cell will organise a cycle rally on World No Tobacco Day on May 31.

Facilitators delivered lecture on "Burden of Tobacco" and "An overview of National Tobacco Control Programme and National Tobacco Control Legislation". The programme was attended by officials of health department, police, state and district-level anti-tobacco squad team.