AGARTALA: In a concerted effort to combat tobacco consumption and raise widespread health awareness across the state, the Tripura Voluntary Health Association organized a comprehensive state-level workshop on tobacco control in Agartala today. The event brought together key government ministers, local administrative heads, women welfare leaders, and public health advocates to formulate robust strategies against tobacco addiction.
The workshop focused heavily on community-level prevention, strict enforcement of tobacco control laws, and safeguarding the youth from the perils of substance abuse.
Prominent Dignitaries in Attendance
The workshop witnessed the presence of several high-profile state leaders and health advocates:
- Shri Tinku Roy: Hon’ble Sports Minister, Government of Tripura
- Shri Biswajit Seal: Sabhadhipati, West Tripura Zilla Parishad
- Smt. Jharna Debbarma: Chairperson, Tripura Commission for Women
- Smt. Sreelekha Roy: President, Volunteer Health Association of Tripura
- Shri Sujit Ghosh: Director, Volunteer Health Association of Tripura
- Smt. Shukla Debbarma: State Programme Officer, National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), Tripura
Key Highlights & Discussions:
Addressing the gathering, the dignitaries underscored the urgent need for a multi-sectoral approach to eradicate tobacco use from society:
- Role of Youth and Sports: Sports Minister Tinku Roy highlighted how active engagement in sports, physical fitness, and cultural activities can steer young minds away from harmful addictions, urging community leaders to champion grassroot awareness initiatives.
- Effective Enforcement of NTCP Guidelines: State Programme Officer Shukla Debbarma detailed the ongoing framework under the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), stressing the importance of educational institution-led campaigns and strict compliance with public smoking bans.
- Impact on Families and Women: Tripura Commission for Women Chairperson Jharna Debbarma pointed out how tobacco addiction heavily impacts household economics and women’s health, calling for broader grassroots mobilization.
- Collaborative Public Health Action: Association President Sreelekha Roy and Director Sujit Ghosh reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to working alongside state bodies to conduct sustained awareness camps in schools, colleges, and rural blocks.
The workshop concluded with participants taking a collective pledge to intensify anti-tobacco advocacy across all districts of Tripura, aiming to foster a healthier, addiction-free generation.
