SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, June 1: Jharkhand’s tobacco control technical support partner Socio Economic and Educational Development Society (SEEDS) bagged the Smita Memorial Foundation Award for its outstanding work in the tobacco control programme in 2021-22.
The Foundation presented this prestigious award to SEEDs executive director Dipak Kumar Mishra at Constitution Club New Delhi on Tuesday evening on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day. The award is given every year to individuals for their contribution in this field.
SEEDS has been extending technical support to the Jharkhand government for the last 12 years in controlling tobacco in the state.
In the last 12 years, Jharkhand has made a major leap in controlling tobacco users in the state. As per the Global Adult Tobacco Survey ( GATS) – 1 report in 2010, the prevalence rate of tobacco in Jharkhand was 51.1 % which came down to 38.9% in GATS- 2 reports published in 2018.
Smita Foundation while giving the award to SEEDs pointed out that the organization along with the government, private institutions and other stakeholders created a strong wave in the implementation of the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003 in the state. “ Owing to efforts of Dipak Mishra electronic cigarettes and Hookah bars have been completely banned in Jharkhand and Bihar. Moreover, eight districts in Jharkhand and 23 districts in Bihar have been declared smoke free areas”, said the Foundation.
Dipak Mishra has got many national and international awards for his outstanding contribution in the field of the tobacco control programme.
Jharkhand government has also appreciated his contribution to bagging the World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) international award 2022.
