Odisha Health department emphasises interdepartmental coordination & public engagement on World No Tobacco Day
Bhubaneswar(By Abhishek Mohanty): The Odisha Health and Family Welfare Department, under the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), observed the World No Tobacco Day 2025 with a state-level function being organised at Geeta Gobinda Sadan in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.
Chairing the programme, Aswasthy S., Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, reiterated the State Government’s commitment to a tobacco-free future through coordinated efforts at all levels.
The event emphasised on the importance of interdepartmental coordination and public engagement in reducing tobacco consumption and promoting a tobacco-free society.
On this occasion, a signature campaign was inaugurated to involve citizens in pledging their support for a tobacco-free Odisha. In addition, the department released newly developed IEC materials to educate the public, particularly youth and vulnerable communities, on the risks associated with tobacco use.
The department also released the NTCP Annual Activity Report 2024–25, which presented a comprehensive overview of district-level performance, enforcement progress, and key milestones achieved in the past year.
A major highlight of the event was the digital launch of the ToFEI (Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions) web application, which will assist schools and colleges in self-assessing and reporting their compliance with national tobacco-free guidelines.
Three districts were felicitated for their exemplary implementation of tobacco control initiatives. Ganjam for overall implementation of NTCP, Sundergarh for enforcement of tobacco control legislation, and Cuttack for efficient financial management under the programme.
In recognition of their cross-sectoral support, five departments namely School and Mass Education, Higher Education, Excise, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water, and Home Department were also awarded. These departments played a critical role in institutional enforcement, community mobilisation, and awareness generation.
Dr. J.M. Beborta, Special Secretary (Public Health), Dr. Amarendra Nath Mohanty, Director, SIHFW, Dr. Nilakantha Mishra, Director of Public Health, focused on creating a tobacco-free generation through early intervention and education. The programme was coordinated by Dr. Sushanta Kumar Swain, Additional Director (NCD) and State Nodal Officer for NTCP.
