Kohima, June 1
Gariphema village in Nagaland has been declared the country’s first tobacco-free village. The declaration was made by Principal Secretary R Benchilo Thong on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day on Saturday at the Gariphema Village Council hall near Kohima.

It was a result of an initiative taken by the Gariphema Village Council, Village Vision Cell and Village Students’ Union, Thong said.

A resolution was taken at the village that whoever sells alcohol and tobacco or whoever gets drunk and disturbs peace would be imposed a fine of Rs 1,000 while those consuming alcohol, ‘bidi’, ‘paan’, betel nut or smokeless tobacco on the street and public places would be fined Rs 500. Thong said Gariphema had shown a great example not only to villages in Nagaland but also to other regions of the country and urged the villagers to strictly follow the declaration.

At the programme, Deputy Director, National Tobacco Control Programme, MC Longai said 67.9 per cent men and 28.1 per cent women of Nagaland consume tobacco. — PTI