Nagaland's health directorate and Vital Strategies hold a State-level workshop on tobacco vendor licensing and COTPA enforcement
22 October 2026
The Directorate of Health & Family Welfare (DH&FW), Nagaland, with Vital Strategies, held a State-Level Orientation Workshop on Tobacco Control under the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) at the DH&FW Conference Hall, Kohima, on 22 October 2026. Director (Dental) Dr I Arenla Walling gave the inaugural address and Additional Secretary of Municipal Affairs T Nchumbemo Odyuo the keynote, describing Tobacco Vendor Licensing (TVL) as vendor-friendly, inexpensive and accessible. Dr Hansa Kundu of Vital Strategies conducted sessions on enforcing Sections 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the COTPA 2003 Act. State Nodal Officer for NTCP Nagaland Dr I Simon Sumi presented the burden of tobacco use, and Dr Upendra Singh Bhadauria presented strategies for Tobacco-Free Villages and a proposed web-based monitoring application.
In plain words
COTPA Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 — India's main tobacco control law, covering smoking in public places, advertising and sale to minors.
NTCP National Tobacco Control Programme — The Union health ministry's programme to implement tobacco control laws and cessation services.
TVL Tobacco Vendor Licensing — A licence system for shops that sell tobacco products.