Puducherry has bagged the ‘Best Performing UT Award’ in the Tobacco-Free Youth campaign 2.0, a national recognition conferred by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The award acknowledges Puducherry’s efforts in implementing tobacco control initiatives under the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) during the year 2024 25, an official release said.
The Union Territory was lauded for its robust enforcement of anti-tobacco laws, particularly the yellow line campaigns aimed at preventing the sale of tobacco products near educational institutions. The administration’s measure to declare numerous institutions as tobacco-free zones and conduct intensive enforcement drives in collaboration with the police department also came in for commendation, the press note added.
According to the release, the highlights of the campaign in Puducherry also included the establishment of 20 new tobacco cessation centres across medical and dental colleges and primary and community health centres. Awareness programmes were also carried out across schools, colleges, and communities.
The Department of Health and Family Welfare Services appreciated the sustained efforts of the District Collectorate, Police department, Education department, Social Welfare department, medical and dental colleges, field-level health workers, community health volunteers, and partner organisations for helping achieve the award.