Tobacco Sales Flourish Near Schools in J&K Despite Strict Prohibition
“We are committed to enforcing a complete ban on tobacco use in Jammu and Kashmir,” said Dr. Jehangir Bakshi, Director of the Jammu & Kashmir Tobacco Control Program. “To support this, we have developed an Android application to assess the tobacco-free status of educational institutions across the Kashmir division. Over 4,500 institutions have completed the assessment, ensuring they meet the guidelines.”
The department has also introduced another mobile application that allows the public to report violations of COTPA-2003 in public spaces and near educational institutions. Dr. Bakshi added that district-level coordination meetings, chaired by the Deputy Commissioner, are held quarterly to ensure the effective implementation of the National Tobacco Control Program (NTCP). These efforts have seen 80% of educational institutions in the region successfully implementing tobacco-free guidelines. State-level coordination meetings are also held twice a year to reinforce these initiatives.
Moreover, a variety of awareness programs have been launched, including 807 street plays, nukkad nataks (street theater), health talks, and 2,646 school rallies to educate the public, especially students, about the dangers of tobacco use.
In a recent push, the Srinagar Police conducted an anti-smoking campaign in Lal Chowk, one of the city’s busiest commercial areas. The campaign aimed at educating the public and ensuring compliance with the smoking ban in public places was widely appreciated by locals. However, many stressed the importance of consistent, long-term anti-smoking efforts.
“Tobacco use will continue unless enforcement agencies maintain this initiative regularly,” said Altaf Ahmed, a resident of Lal Chowk. “It’s crucial that they don’t make this a one-time action but ensure sustained campaigns to make a real impact.” school / school
While the fight against tobacco use in J&K is ongoing, experts emphasiSe the need for a more comprehensive and sustained approach. Successful tobacco control in the region will require consistent enforcement, widespread public education, and active participation from all sectors of society—parents, teachers, and local communities alike. (RK)
