Anti-smoking advocacy groups to receive MVR 3M in govt grants

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has publicized a policy introducing annual grants of up to MVR 3 million for registered civic organizations and groups involved in anti-smoking advocacy.

The policy, publicized by the HPA on Friday, groups financial assistance into three categories. They are:

• Initiatives limited to a single organization or island: MVR 75,000 – MVR 100,000
• National initiatives: MVR 100,000 – MVR 300,000
• Practical works directed at more than one region: MVR 300,000 – MVR 500,000

The policy states that applicants must cap the administrative expenses to 20 percent of the total cost in the proposal.

The groups must be active for at least one year in order to be eligible for the grant. Meanwhile, applicants involved in or linked to tobacco trade are ineligible.

According to the policy, the proposals will be reviewed by a seven-member awarding committee selected by the Health Ministry, composed of officials from the Health Ministry, a member of the Youth Advisory Board, a senior official from the Local Government Authority, an official from the HPA, a board member from the Public Health Fund Committee, and a senior official from the Home Ministry.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s administration had introduced sweeping changes back in 2024 to crack down on smoking. The changes saw the introduction of a ban on vapes and e-cigarettes, a smoking ban on the post-2007 generation, as well as the doubling of import duty on cigarettes, beedi and heated tobacco products.

However, the import duty hike was later reversed back in July.