President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, on Tuesday, revealed he has instructed the relevant authorities to undertake efforts to introduce a cash incentive for each resident if the entire population of an island stops smoking.
The President, via a post on X, announced the government’s decision to conduct a study on offering a cash incentive for each resident if the entire population of an island stops smoking as part of the current administration’s anti-tobacco efforts.
ދުންފަތުގެ އިސްތިއުމާލު ކުރުމުން ދުރުހެލިވެފައިވާ ދުޅަހެޔޮ މުޖުތަމަޢަކަށް ހެދުމަށް ކުރެވޭ މަސައްކަތުގެ ތެރެއިން، ދުންފަތުގެ އިސްތިއުމާލުކުރުން އެއްކޮށް ހުއްޓާލާ ރަށްރަށުގެ އާބާދީގެ ކޮންމެ ރައްޔިތެއްގެ ބޭންކް އެކައުންޓަށް ޖަމާކޮށްދޭ ފައިސާގެ އިނާމެއް ނުވަތަ އިނާޔަތެއް ދިނުމާ ގުޅޭ…
— Dr Mohamed Muizzu (@MMuizzu) June 24, 2025
The decision was reached during this week’s cabinet meeting.
According to the President, the relevant ministers were instructed to implement the study and submit a paper on the study during the cabinet meeting.
The President did not share any further details.
Similar anti-tobacco initiatives were implemented during former president Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom’s administration. In this regard, school books were given free to children of individuals who had stopped smoking.
Green Leaf Award was bestowed during Maumoon’s administration for islands implementing environmental-friendly practices and conceiving fewer children to reduce population.
Smoking remains prevalent in the Maldivian society.
President Muizzu launched a campaign against smoking last year, introducing a ban on vapes and e-cigarettes, and doubling import duty and taxes on cigarettes.
The government is also set to introduce a smoking ban for the post-2007 generation set to kick-in in November.
Nevertheless, the government still falls short on implementing many laws and regulations related to tobacco. In this regard, individually selling cigarettes and smoking in public spaces is still commonly observed.