📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Original: Chirnzb
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Health
Meghalaya’s Tobacco‑Free Village Programme hailed as national model for community‑led tobacco control
✍️ shillongtoday.com
🗓 11 Sep 2026, 12:17 AM
👁 38
The Tobacco‑Free Village programme in Meghalaya is being recognised across India as a successful community‑driven approach to curb tobacco use.
The state government of Meghalaya, in partnership with local health NGOs, launched the Tobacco‑Free Village programme to empower villages to eliminate tobacco consumption through community action. Village councils, school groups and health workers were mobilised to raise awareness, enforce smoke‑free zones and provide cessation support.
Early feedback from participating villages shows a noticeable drop in the number of smokers and a rise in public understanding of tobacco‑related health risks. The initiative’s grassroots structure, which places decision‑making in the hands of villagers, has been highlighted as a key factor in its effectiveness.
National health authorities have cited Meghalaya’s experience as a benchmark for other states seeking community‑led tobacco control strategies. Officials say the programme could be replicated in diverse regions, offering a scalable model that aligns with India’s broader goal of reducing tobacco‑related morbidity.
The programme also underscores the role of local leadership and culturally tailored messaging in public‑health interventions, reinforcing the belief that community ownership can drive lasting behavioural change.
Early feedback from participating villages shows a noticeable drop in the number of smokers and a rise in public understanding of tobacco‑related health risks. The initiative’s grassroots structure, which places decision‑making in the hands of villagers, has been highlighted as a key factor in its effectiveness.
National health authorities have cited Meghalaya’s experience as a benchmark for other states seeking community‑led tobacco control strategies. Officials say the programme could be replicated in diverse regions, offering a scalable model that aligns with India’s broader goal of reducing tobacco‑related morbidity.
The programme also underscores the role of local leadership and culturally tailored messaging in public‑health interventions, reinforcing the belief that community ownership can drive lasting behavioural change.