Addressing the occasion, President of Indian Society on Tobacco & Health (Mizoram Chapter) Lal Riliani said that it is the the peoples’ responsibility and is a must for those who love the land and the nation to fight against tobacco and related products which claims great number of people’s lives and which worsen the peoples’ health.
She also mentioned that as per the Global Adult Tobacco Survey report, 67 % of the people of Mizoram are found with consuming tobacoo and related products, and that the Economics & Statistics Deptt. of Mizoram also found that most number of deaths in Mizoram are due to disease caused by tobacco and related products.
The President also mentioned how since the past 23 years from its inception, the Indian Society on Tobacco & Health (Mizoram Chapter) has been taking active steps in imparting instruction on the hazardous effect of tobacco consumption and in campaigning the people to avoid the same for good.
President Lal Riliani lauded Thingsul Tlangnuam village for its outstanding performance for curbing the tobacco and related practices. Conveying best wishes to continue the campaign and be example for others, the President declared Thingsul Tlangnuam village as “Tobacco Free Village”.
Also addressing the occasion, Health Secretary Esther Lal Ruatkimi spoke on how, acknowledging the bad effects of tobacco and related consumption, a nation-wide campaign is being carried out, and how even the government also has come up with prohibition laws known popularly as COTPA. Health Secretary said it is regretful that, out of the very few national level top mark attained by the State, the fact that Mizoram has the highest number of people in terms of tobacco and related consumption. Adding it is high time the people of the state awakens she lauded Thingsul Tlangnuam village for taking great steps in this regard.
The programme was also addressed by Mizoram State Tobacco Control Society Nodal Officer Dr Jane R Ralte, who spoke on the restriction imposed in Mizoram on tobacco and how COTPA is being carried out. Indian Society on Tobacco & Health (Mizoram Chapter) Vice President Mr. VL Bela also addressed the programme.
Thingsul Tlangnuam village has started taking active steps since the middle of 2012 in order to attain the status of Tobacco Free Village. On learning their persevere steps, Indian Society on Tobacco and Health (Mizoram Chapter) has supported in their endeavour and also Mizoram State Tobacco Control Society (MSTCS) has rendered help as necessary.
The various churches, NGOs, and representatives of Village Council and local authorities by way of forming Anti-Tobacco Committee, the members divided their tasks in different areas, and thereby carried out the campaign at every house of the village.
They also conducted Survey on the consumption of tobacco and related products by the villagers during March 2013, for which MSTCS prepared Survey Format, using which Thingsul Tlangnuam, Anti-Tobacco Committee conducted the survey to all the villagers above 13 years of age. As shown in the Survey, Thingsul Tlangnuam comprises 257 houses and 923 residents above 13 years old, of which 655 people (70.96%) indulged in tobacco consumption.