Smoke Free Howrah – Becoming an Official Smoke-free City

Smoke-free efforts in India gained momentum when revised smoke-free rules came into force on 2 October 2008, further strengthening national tobacco control legislation and empowering action to protect the public at large from second-hand smoke exposure. Several jurisdictions in India have begun implementing legislation to protect people from second-hand smoke. However, many of these measures have not been comprehensive, and as a result, implementation and compliance at subnational level is variable.

In June 2010, Howrah’s District Administration, with support from civil society organizations, launched the “Smokefree Howrah” campaign. This effort, supported by the national Department of Health and Family Welfare, was the first in a series of interventions to advance tobacco control in the district. A comprehensive workplan was developed with the support of two civil society organizations – Cancer Foundation of India, and Manbhum Ananda Ashram Nityananda Trust (MANT) – and between 2010 and 2014, the campaign enabled capacity-building among stakeholders and established coalitions and networks, and an institutional framework for enforcement.

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