TOBACCO CONTROL PROJECT

Voluntary Health Association of Tripura (VHAT) has been implementing Bloomberg Initiative -The Union Tobacco Control Project since February 2020 in Tripura. Initially the project area was limited only in four districts but then extended across the state of Tripura. The prime objective of the project was to strengthen the mechanism within existing tobacco control system under National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) and support for COTPA Compliances as well as creation of Tobacco Free Premises in Tripura.

Strategies:

Institutionalization of implementation system and its strengthening for NTCP

Sensitization of policy makers, senior officials

Capacity building of law enforcers and others stakeholders

Support for implementation of various activities of NTCP and enforcement of COTPA

Support to STCC to develop, adopt and implement new or revised guiding documents to counter existing and emerging threats for Tobacco Control.

Monitoring & evaluation of the project.

We have organized different state level workshops in FY 2023-24 at Agartala in collaboration with the National Tobacco Control Project of Tripura under National Health Mission to carry forward the ongoing initiatives of tobacco control in Tripura.

Sensitization Workshop of State Level Stakeholders on the WHO FCTC Article 5.3: On 17th August, 2023, this workshop was held in Agartala in collaboration with National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) under NHM Tripura.

Focus Group Discussion (FGD on Tobacco Control Sustainability) : On 17th August, 2023, we organized Focus Group Discussion on the sustainability of Tobacco Control activities with the various state level Officials of Health , Law, Police, Education, Urban Development department and State Rural Livelihood Mission.

The state level workshop of District Level Nodal Officers of NTCP, Line Departments & General Administration: This workshop was organized on 24th November ,2023 in Conference Hall of NHM Building, Agartala

State Level Media Sensitization Workshop on Tobacco Control: This was organized in collaboration with NTCP, Tripura and Tripura Journalist Union at Agartala Press Club on 26th December 2023. Totally 35(thirty five) Media Personnel participated in this event.

District Level Workshops/Trainings: Five District Level Orientation Workshops were organized in (i) Kanchanpur, (ii) Dharmanagar in North Tripura district, (iii) Khowai in DM Conference Hall, Khowai District, (iv) Udaipur for Gomati District, (v) Ambassa for Dhalai District with help of concerned district administration . In all these workshops participants from line departments were present. Main aim was to oriented them about the enforcement techniques and procedures to be followed. Special Enforcement drive was conducted in West Tripura in four regions with the active support of NTCP & Police

Observation of World No Tobacco Day 2023: The WNTD on 31st May 2023 was observed in four districts of Tripura with various activities .

In North Tripura District: Rally with electrical vehicle around the district head quarter and surroundings and one seminar in coordination with the Dharmanagar Municipal Council.

In Gomati District: Drawing Competition among the children of different groups with messages through their drawings and one workshop to discuss various issues related to overcome this ill habit of tobacco consumption.

In Khowai District : The Day was observed with some action oriented activities- awareness rally by the active participation of the women SHG members and followed by one workshop.

In Unakoti District: the activities included drawing competition with the school students, rally with the nursing students and local NGOs in the district head quarter and also one seminar was organized with them

Advocacy Meetings with different stakeholders:Advocacy meetings were conducted byProject Manager and District Coordinators with various stakeholders like District Magistrate & Collector,Chief Medical Officer, ADM & Collector, SDM, NTCP Officials, Block Development Officer, District Education Officer,Panchayat Officer, District Labour officer, ICDS officials and public representatives like Zilla Sabhadhipati,Municipal Councilors, Block Chairman,Panchayat Pradhan.

During the financial year 2023-24, we have achieved few important milestones regarding the tobacco control in Tripura State like as below:-

Notification issued: Various notifications were issued by Government Officials regarding the “Tobacco & Smoke Free office premises” in the state with our continue advocacy. Few of them were- BDO of Dasda ( North Tripura) , Netaji Subhash College, Udaipur, (Gomati District), Superintend of Tax, Gomati, Govt. Degree College, Santir Bazar (South Tripura), Belonia Govt. Degree College (South Tripura), BDO Rupaichari Block, (South Tripura), BDO Matabari R.D Block (Gomati dist) and Inspector of School, Kanchanpur(North Tripura District).

End line survey on COTPA compliances: The survey was assigned to National Law University, Tripura, to cover all the districts. The team was engaged and trained for collection of data through structured questionnaires. The collected data was analyzed and submitted to VHAT. After that it was published on 12th March in the presence of senior officials of State Administration.

Introduction of Tobacco Monitoring AAP: For making a significant impact on tobacco control initiatives in the state, we have collaborated with the Mary Anne Charity Trust (MACT), Chennai for developing one Tobacco Monitor Application or APP. The APP was developed and introduced for the first time in Tripura.