Agartala, 28th July 2026 : In a significant step towards building a tobacco-free Tripura, a State-Level Workshop for Key Stakeholders on Tobacco-Free Initiatives was organized on Tuesday at Hotel Sonar Tori in Agartala. The workshop was jointly organized by the Volunteer Health Association of Tripura (VHAT) and the State Tobacco Control Cell under the National Health Mission (NHM), bringing together policymakers, health experts, government officials and civil society representatives to strengthen tobacco control measures across the state.
State Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports, Social Welfare & Social Education, and Labour Tinku Roy attended the inaugural session as the chief guest. Other dignitaries present included Biswajit Shil, Sabhadhipati of the West Tripura Zilla Parishad; Jharna Debbarma, Chairperson of the Tripura Commission for Women; Dr. Sreelekha Roy, President of VHAT; Dr. Sujit Ghosh, Executive Director of VHAT; Dr. Shukla Debbarma, State Programme Officer of the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP); and Saju Waheed A., IAS, Mission Director of the National Health Mission, Tripura.
The inaugural ceremony featured the felicitation of guests, thematic addresses highlighting the need for stronger tobacco control interventions, and a formal vote of thanks.
The workshop was followed by a technical session focusing on the effective implementation of the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP). Experts deliberated on the responsibilities of various stakeholders in tobacco control, the implementation of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Article 5.3, guidelines for Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI), and strategies for developing tobacco-free villages.
An afternoon panel discussion explored coordinated efforts among different government departments to strengthen tobacco control in Tripura. The deliberations focused on effective enforcement of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), promoting tobacco-free educational institutions, introducing licensing systems for tobacco vendors, and sharing successful experiences in establishing tobacco-free panchayats and villages.
Speakers unanimously stressed that achieving a healthy and tobacco-free Tripura requires sustained public awareness campaigns, strict enforcement of tobacco control laws, and close coordination among government departments, educational institutions, local bodies, healthcare agencies and civil society organizations.
