Dharamshala, September 1, 2026: Dr. Anuradha, District Nodal Officer, National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), District Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, has been conferred the prestigious **SIPHER National Emerging Tobacco Control Heroes Award 2026** in recognition of her outstanding contribution to tobacco control and public health.
The national honour was presented to Dr. Anuradha at the Conference Hall of Zonal Hospital, Dharamshala, by **Chief Medical Officer, Kangra, Padma Shri Dr. Omesh Bharti**, along with **Senior Medical Superintendent, Zonal Hospital, Dharamshala, Dr. Anuradha Sharma**, in the presence of **Medical Officer of Health, Kangra, Dr. Rajesh Kumar Sood**.
The award recognises Dr. Anuradha’s **14 years of dedicated public health service, exemplary leadership, field-oriented approach and sustained commitment to protecting communities from tobacco-related harm**. As District Nodal Officer, she has played a pivotal role in translating tobacco control policies into effective action through enforcement, institutional strengthening, community mobilisation, inter-sectoral coordination and expansion of tobacco cessation services.
District Kangra, the largest district in Himachal Pradesh and home to nearly one-fourth of the state’s population, presents considerable geographical and administrative challenges in implementing tobacco control measures. Dr. Anuradha has addressed these challenges through meticulous planning, proactive field engagement and effective coordination with government departments, local institutions and community stakeholders.
As Chairperson of the **District Flying Squad**, she has provided strategic leadership to tobacco control law enforcement while regularly mentoring and reviewing Block Flying Squads to ensure effective and uniform implementation of tobacco control legislation. Going beyond administrative supervision, she has personally participated in enforcement drives, field inspections and the detection and compounding of violations, demonstrating leadership from the front.
Her leadership has contributed to significant enforcement outcomes. During the **Tobacco-Free Youth Campaign (TFYC) 2025**, coordinated enforcement operations resulted in **1,911 challans** and the collection of **₹2,18,400 in compounding fees**. During the **World No Tobacco Day Campaign 2026**, enforcement teams issued **133 challans under COTPA, 2003**, collecting **₹36,400 in penalties**. Enforcement under the **Himachal Pradesh Prohibition of Sale of Loose Cigarettes and Beedies Act, 2016**, further resulted in **14 violations and ₹47,200 in penalties**.
A major achievement under her leadership has been the advancement of the **Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions (TOFEI) Movement** and the **Tobacco-Free Village Initiative**. Through close coordination with the Education Department, Panchayati Raj Institutions and field-level functionaries, **1,900 educational institutions and 53 villages were declared Tobacco-Free during TFYC 2025**. These initiatives have strengthened institutional accountability while encouraging community ownership and sustainable behavioural change.
Recognising that tobacco control must extend beyond enforcement, Dr. Anuradha has also spearheaded efforts to strengthen tobacco cessation services across the district. Her initiatives facilitated the operationalisation of **three Tobacco Cessation Centres and 20 Nayi Disha Kendras**, significantly expanding access to tobacco-dependence treatment, behavioural counselling and quit-support services for tobacco users.
Through strategic inter-sectoral collaboration, awareness campaigns, targeted sensitisation programmes, radio talks and digital media outreach, Dr. Anuradha has further strengthened public awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco use. Her initiatives have placed particular emphasis on **children, adolescents, educational institutions and vulnerable communities**, while promoting prevention and tobacco cessation.
Her sustained efforts have helped transform tobacco control in Kangra from a programme-driven activity into a **coordinated, field-oriented and community-supported public health movement**. Her approach combines policy implementation with grassroots engagement, enforcement with counselling, and institutional action with community participation, offering a model that can be replicated in other regions.
The **SIPHER National Emerging Tobacco Control Heroes Award 2026** is a significant national recognition of Dr. Anuradha’s commitment and achievements. Her work has contributed substantially to strengthening tobacco control implementation in Himachal Pradesh and to protecting children, adolescents and communities from the serious health consequences associated with tobacco use.
The honour is not only a recognition of her individual achievements but also a testament to the collective efforts of the **District Health Department, District and Block Flying Squads, Education Department, Panchayati Raj Institutions, health personnel and community stakeholders** working towards the goal of a tobacco-free Kangra.
Dr. Anuradha’s achievement stands as an inspiring example of how **visionary leadership, professional dedication, field-level action and community participation** can translate public health policy into tangible and sustainable outcomes. Her national recognition is a proud moment for District Kangra and Himachal Pradesh and reinforces the collective vision of a **healthier and tobacco-free future**.