DIMAPUR, June 1 � A small hamlet situated about 50 kms from the Nagaland capital Kohima has embarked on a novel mission to declare its entire vicinity a tobacco-free zone.
Coinciding with the observation of World No Tobacco Day, Gariphema village was declared a tobacco-free village on Saturday.
The Gariphema Village Council is said to have passed a resolution in 1993 to ban the selling of intoxicating items labelled as �Injurious to Health� including alcohol and tobacco products (cigarettes and smoke-less tobacco). Reaffirming this old resolution, the village vision cell set the spark to make Gariphema a tobacco-free village and is now implemented by the village students� body.
A resolution was taken in 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.
