National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP)

About National Tobacco Control Programme

Government of India launched the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) in the year 2007-08 during the 11th Five-Year-Plan, with the aim to (i) create awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco consumption, (ii) reduce the production and supply of tobacco products, (iii) ensure effective implementation of the provisions under “The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003” (COTPA) (iv) help the people quit tobacco use, and (v) facilitate implementation of strategies for prevention and control of tobacco advocated by WHO Framework Convention of Tobacco Control.

During the 11th Five Year Plan, NTCP was implemented in 21 states covering 42 districts. To carry forward the momentum generated by the NTCP during the 11th Five Year Plan and baseline data generated through the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) India 2009-2010, indicating high level of prevalence of tobacco use, it was up scaled in the 12th Five Year Plan with a goal to reduce the prevalence of tobacco use by 5% by the end of the 12th FYP. As per the second round of GATS, the prevalence of tobacco use has reduced by six percentage points from 34.6% to 28.6% during the period from 2009-10 to 2016-17. The number of tobacco users has reduced by about 81 lakh (8.1 million).

The main thrust areas for the NTCP are as under:

• Training of health and social workers, NGOs, school teachers, and enforcement officers;
• Information, education, and communication (IEC) activities;
• School programmes;
• Monitoring of tobacco control laws;
• Coordination with Panchayat Raj Institutions for village level activities;
• Setting-up and strengthening of cessation facilities including provision of pharmacological treatment facilities at district level.

Objectives of National Tobacco Control Program

1. To build capacity of the State / Districts to effectively implement the tobacco control initiatives; To train the health and social workers;
2. To undertake appropriate IEC activities and mass awareness campaigns, including at schools, workplaces; public place etc;
3. To set up a regulatory mechanism to monitor.
4. Implement the Tobacco Control Laws;
5. To establish a system of tobacco product regulation.
6. Provide facilities for treatment of tobacco dependence To conduct Adult Tobacco Survey/Youth Survey for surveillance, etc.
7. Integration with other programs under NHM: manpower, IEC, funding, strategies / Augmenting Tobacco Cessation: NPCDCS, NOIIP, Tb-Tobacco collaboration.
8. Action Plan to meet the 2030 target of 3% Reduction in tobacco cultivation.
9. Coalition with all stakeholders, academic institutions and professional bodies.

Tobacco Cessation Centre (TCC)

Focus Group Discussion involves gathering people from similar backgrounds or experiences, to bring them together to discuss a specific topic of interest. It is a form of qualitative research; here questions are asked about their perceptions attitudes, beliefs, opinion ideas, habits etc. In National Tobacco Control Program, FGD is conducted with identified tobacco users in a village; taluk and district level. and motivate them to quit tobacco consumption. It can be done with Self Help Group Meeting, Colleges, Youth Clubs, Parents Meeting at School and Colleges, Health Camps, Rotary club/Lions club, NGOs etc. Those who quit tobacco completely can share his/ her experience to motivate others. Tobacco victims and cancer patients can be invited to talk on tobacco ill effects and benefits so quitting tobacco. It can be done by using tobacco ill effects flipchart, posters and showing anti tobacco videos. Discussion should not only highlight the health hazards of tobacco, but it should also showcase the economic consequences on “how tobacco ruins a household”, “Economic Burden of tobacco”, “Social burden of tobacco” etc. The psychologist has to show them a different angle about their cultivated habit, how quitting will be beneficial to him/her in different was. At end of the FGD, psychologist should explain services available in Tobacco Cessation Centre and refer him to Psychiatrist working under DMIIP Program for any higher treatment, to those who are willing to seek tobacco cessation service. Educative materials, flipcharts, reading materials are given to FGD participants. Ideally, one FGD group consists of 1015 people. NTCP Psychologist has to be actively involved along with other NTCP team members. Counselor Psychologist under NTCP has to organize 4 such FGD’s in a month.

Telephonic Counseling/Phone Therapy

Considering the current situations we encourage our Counselors/Psychologist to undertake “Telephonic Counseling” also called “Tele-therapy” or “Phone Therapy”. Phone Therapy or Phone Counseling is the process of talking to a client via telephone/Skype to resolve mental health issues. Telephone Therapy can be found effective in adolescents can be done through telephone or even Skype calls. Recent studies show that telephone therapy has much therapeutic value as Face to Face to therapy. It also can be used to supplement Online therapy sessions, send reminder SMS for follow up appointments etc,

Considering current scenario, TCC is a way of helping people who do not have means or opportunity to attend face toface sessions, and to receive the help that they want to receive.

District Anti Tobacco Cell (DATC) Key Objectives/Activities

1. Training of Key Stakeholders – Advocacy, Cessation, Enforcement officer Training
2. IEC activities
3. School Program
4. Monitoring of Tobacco Control Laws
5. Setting up and Strengthening Tobacco Cessation facilities.
6. Coordination with Panchayath Raj Institutions to implement the Tobacco Control Program at grass roots.

District Tobacco Control Cell,

District Level Co-Ordination committee.

Taluk Tobacco Control Team