VISAKHAPATNAM: At a time when oral cancer due to excessive smoking is spreading in coastal AP, around a dozen villages in Visakha Agency are trying to get the 'tobacco-free village' tag.Some of them have already managed to reduce tobacco consumption by 80-90%. These villages include RK Nagar and Pedagangudi in Araku mandal, Damsarai, Mardaguda and Chukumadatha in Ananthagiri mandal, D Kollaput, Narinjavalasa and K Kosiguda in Dumbriguda mandal, Dabaputu in Paderu and Kunturla in Hukumpeta mandal. No shops sell gutkha, bidi, khaini or other tobacco products in these villages.According to research projects by the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) and Nature NGO, villages including Lingavaram, Pongalipaka, Degalapalem, Balabadram, Bheemavaram, Gondhipakalu, Chinarajupakalu, Boyapadu, Bangarammapeta, Tunivalasa and Ramakrishnapuram are some of the tobacco-free villages in AP.Speaking about the achievement, director of NGO Nature S Balaraju said, "Since the last three years, combined efforts of villagers, NGOs and government have gone a long way in making these villages tobacco-free. Youth associations and youth leaders from these villages have carried out awareness campaigns. The government has also distributed information cducation communication (IEC) materials, while the NGOs have spread public health messages. Apart from these, village sarpanches and local religious leaders have joined in sensitising the villagers."Meanwhile, on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day, district medical and health office organised a rally from the DMHO office to Satyam Junction on Wednesday. Penalties under COTPA include fine and imprisonment.

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