State-Level Multi-Stakeholders Workshop on Tobacco Control at NLU Tripura
National Law University organized a State-Level Multi-Stakeholders Workshop on Tobacco Control at the premises of the University in Narsingarh. The event was jointly organized by the Voluntary Health Association of Tripura (VHAT), Agartala, and NLU Tripura, with the objective of reinforcing tobacco control efforts through collaborative, multi-sectoral action.
The workshop brought together a diverse and influential group of stakeholders from across the state. Participants included senior representatives from the Health Department, law enforcement agencies, academic institutions, civil society organizations, legal experts, youth representatives, and public health advocates. The central aim of the gathering was to promote coordination among stakeholders, strengthen the enforcement of tobacco control laws, and explore innovative legal and policy pathways to reduce tobacco use in Tripura.
The inaugural session of the workshop featured key dignitaries including Kalyani Saha Roy, Chief Whip of the Tripura Legislative Assembly; Yogesh Pratap Singh, Vice-Chancellor of NLU Tripura; Megha Jain, Additional District Magistrate of West Tripura; Abhijit Das, State Program Officer of the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), Tripura; and Sreelekha Ray, President of the Voluntary Health Association of Tripura.
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In her opening remarks, Kalyani Saha Roy emphasized the need for strong political commitment and community participation in achieving a tobacco-free Tripura. She underlined the importance of integrating youth in awareness campaigns and policy advocacy. Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Pratap Singh highlighted the role of academic and legal institutions in promoting research-based policy development and legal literacy related to tobacco control.
The technical sessions of the workshop featured in-depth presentations and discussions led by experts including Dipak Mishra, Executive Director of SEEDS; Yogesh Pratap Singh, Vice-Chancellor of NLU Tripura; and Prashanta Majumder, Nodal Officer of the Tobacco Cessation Centre at Agartala Government Dental College.
Key themes covered during these sessions included:
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Enforcement strategies under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003.
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Implementation of the Tobacco-Free Educational Institution (TOFEI) Guidelines, with the goal of making all educational institutions in Tripura tobacco-free campuses.
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Examination of Article 5.3 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which protects tobacco control policies from commercial and vested interests.
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The growing concern over surrogate advertising and the involvement of celebrities in promoting tobacco-related products.
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The critical role of local bodies and urban governance institutions in supporting grassroots-level tobacco control.
Experts and participants collectively stressed the need for more robust public awareness campaigns, capacity-building for enforcement agencies, and active community engagement in anti-tobacco initiatives. They also called for stricter monitoring of tobacco-related advertising, especially indirect promotions that target youth audiences.
The event concluded with a collective resolution by all stakeholders to enhance inter-departmental cooperation, advocate for evidence-based legal reforms, and commit to sustained educational, legal, and community-led initiatives to advance the goal of a tobacco-free Tripura.
This workshop marks a pivotal step in consolidating the state’s efforts to combat the tobacco epidemic and protect public health, particularly among vulnerable populations such as adolescents and marginalized communities.
