BACKGROUND AND IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES: Ernakulam district of Kerala, which known as the commercial capital of the state declared as tobacco free tourist destination in 2012. In 2015 the district declared as Tobacco advertisement free. Kerala Voluntary Health Services, and a coalition of civil society organizations who are instrumented by The Union supported district administration in the above efforts. The compliance study shows high level of compliance in the districts up to 2018. But thereafter the compliance on Tobacco Control laws was gradually reduced and in 2021 it reaches its ever time low of 65%.Point of sale advertisement rise up to 35%. This gives a learning that the effective and sustainable enforcement of Tobacco Control needs civil society support and ownership. This learning is the background of Tobacco Free Neighborhood campaign.
INTERVENTION OR RESPONSE: The jurisdiction of each residence association considered as a neighborhood and resolution of the residence association regarding self-comply of Tobacco Control laws by its members are the first step of the campaign. It was followed by awareness at point of sale against Tobacco Advertisement and schools regarding Tobacco Free School campaign of Government. One hundred and twenty residence associations passed the resolution and joined the campaign.
RESULTS AND IMPACT: In the jurisdiction of 40 neighborhood where the campaign started in 2022 undergone a compliance study recently. The study shows that all forty jurisdictions having high compliance of Indian TC Act. The study also revealed that the jurisdiction reported 80% cessation attempt. Home based smoking also reduced to 99%. The crime record of local police station and excise shows zero fine collection in these area.
CONCLUSIONS: Tobacco Industry always trying to interfere in government policies to promote their products. But in Tobacco Free neighborhood campaign the civil society itself making policies for themselves. Therefore no level of Tobacco Industry interference is possible here.