APRIL 2015

POINT
OUT
» POINT OUT BUREAU
M
any
laws and statutes were
made regarding the ban of
tobacco products. But the
implementation of such
laws is yet to be done. But there’s a
village in the north-east region of India
which didn’t wait for the government
to implement the anti-tobacco laws.
Gariphema village, under Kohima
district of Nagaland, is the first village in
the country which is tobacco free. It is
the only village in India to have banned
tobacco in any form, along with selling
any form of alcohol, biddi, paan, tamul,
gutka and all other substances that are
injurious to health.
Gariphema village was declared the
country's first ‘tobacco-free village’
on 31st May, 2014. The declaration
was made on the occasion of "World
No Tobacco Day" at the Gariphema
village council hall. The village passed
a resolution that whoever sells alcohol,
biri, paan, tamul, gutka (alcohol and
smokeless tobacco) and products with
a trademark “injurious to health” line
or whoever gets drunk and disturbs the
the village was made tobacco
free with an initiative taken
by the village council, village
vision cell and village students’
union. the people of the village,
especially the young students
initiated this campaign as they
very well know the harmful
effects of tobacco.
peace of the village would be imposed
with a fine of 1000 rupees. Whilst those
consuming alcohol, 'bidi', 'paan', betel
nut or smokeless tobacco on the street
and public places would be fined 500
rupees.
The village was made tobacco free with
an initiative taken by the village council,
village vision cell and village students’
union. The people of the village,
especially the young students initiated
this campaign as they very well know
the harmful effects of tobacco. Even the
village council is extending this noble
move beyond its district and spreading
awareness regarding the fatal substance.
Gariphema village is a great example
for other villages, not only in Nagaland
but also for villages in other parts of the
country. The facts and figures say that
India has the highest number of oral
cancer cases in the world. Over 2,200
Indians die every day due to tobacco
use and 40% of all cancers in India are
caused due to tobacco use while 90%
oral cancers are tobacco related. Also,
Tobacco globally kills 5.4 million people
every year and in India alone 8-9 lakh
people die every year.
Nagaland and Mizoram are in the top
list of cancer prevalent states in India.
In Nagaland alone, 67.9% males and
28.1% females consume tobacco. In this
bad scenario, Gariphema village stands
out. The village’s noble move makes the
village distinct and sets it apart from
all the cities and villages of India. Let’s
take cue from this small village and take
initiatives and make India a tobaccofree
country.
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aPrIl 2015