Imphal, 13 November 2025: A new phase of the tobacco control initiative, “Tobacco-Free Youth Campaign 3.0,” was launched today by the District Tobacco Control Cell, Imphal West, under the National Tobacco Control Programme. The event took place at the Conference Hall of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office and was led by Deputy Commissioner Mayanglambam Rajkumar Singh, with the Chief Medical Officer and other district-level officers in attendance.
Speaking at the launch, District Nodal Officer A. Dinesh Sharma stressed the urgent need to intensify preventive strategies against tobacco use. He detailed the campaign’s core components: increasing public awareness on tobacco’s harmful impacts, improving adherence to Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) guidelines, and working toward the declaration of tobacco-free villages. The plan also involves strengthening enforcement of the Cigarettes & Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003 and the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA) 2019. Additionally, the district aims to expand social media outreach and enhance capacity building to support ongoing tobacco control efforts.
To mark the launch, a rally was flagged off from the DC Office to Ram Krishna Mission School, Uripok. Participants voiced anti-tobacco messages such as “Tobacco Free Starts With Me” and “Quit Tobacco Today, Live Young Tomorrow.” ASHA workers, NCC Air Squadron cadets, My Bharat volunteers, programme management units, and health staff actively joined the march.
The programme concluded with an awareness session at the Ram Krishna Mission Auditorium, underscoring the district’s commitment to reducing tobacco use, especially among young people.
