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Keezhamad Declared Keralam's First Tobacco-Free Village, Sets New Standard
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News18•04-10-2026, 22:00
Keezhamad Declared Keralam's First Tobacco-Free Village, Sets New Standard
- •Keezhamad in Ernakulam district has been declared Keralam's first tobacco-free village, announced by Congress MP Benny Behanan.
- •The village achieved this distinction by scoring 144 out of 150 marks based on central government criteria, making history in the state.
- •The initiative focused on educating residents about tobacco's ill effects through awareness campaigns and implementing strict regulations.
- •Key activities included banning tobacco sales near schools, preventing sales to minors, eliminating public smoking, and installing 'Tobacco-free places' signage.
- •The campaign involved Kudumbashree units, Haritha Karma Sena, Gram Panchayat members, Anganwadi workers, and local businesses, with actor Saju Kodiyan as ambassador.
Key Questions Answered
Keezhamad in the Ernakulam district was officially declared Keralam's first tobacco-free village after achieving 144 out of 150 marks based on central government criteria.
A tobacco-free village bans tobacco sales within 100 yards of schools, prevents sales to minors under 18, eliminates public smoking, prohibits promotional advertisements, displays warning boards in institutions, and fines violators through inspections.
Film star and comedian Saju Kodiyan was chosen as the panchayat-level ambassador for the tobacco-free campaign in Keezhamad.
