1989-1990 – VHAA starts out of a one roomed thatched room in the premises of Shanti Sadhana Ashram
First organization to start a networking movement amongst grassroot level organizations encouraging and guiding them to work for the promotion of public health
1990-1991 – VHAA is formally registered as an NGO under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860
1991 onwards – VHAA’s networks grows gradually as more and more grassroot level organizations, Mahila Samities and Youth Clubs start work for the promotion of Public Health.
1995 – VHAA in partnership with the European Union (erstwhile EC) starts first awareness generation and capacity building of NGOs on HIV/AIDS and STIs
1995 – Worst ever Malaria epidemic break out in Assam and neighbouring states Meghalaya and Tripura. VHAA offers yeoman’s service along with team from Urmul Trust, Rajasthan providing treatment services for thousands of fever and confirmed malaria cases not only in its home state but also provided support and assistance in the form of volunteers and paramedics to Meghalaya and Tripura
1995 - VHAA grows from strength to strength. Membership increases from 30 organisations to 70 + organizations. Nodal NGOs identified in the different zones of Assam to identify, assess new NGOs to work for public health issues and to join the VHAA network
1995 – VHAA’s simple, lucid IEC (Information, Education and Communication) material makes wave. The world famous and extremely popular book Where There is No Doctor is translated and published in Assamese – Jot Dactor Nai. DPEP places bulk order for same.
1997 - VHAA starts participating in Guwahati Book Fair, organized by Prakashan Parishad, Assam.
1999 – VHAA gets recognition as Mother NGO by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, in one of the most ambitious national projects introduced for NGO participation in the country.
2003 – External Evaluation of VHA of Assam programmes and activities results in donor commitment towards the organisation’s own Training Hall and permanent premises
2005- VHAA moves into its own premises in Jyotinagar
2005 – VHAA is selected as Regional Resource Centre for NGO Partnership Programme in the 8 North Eastern states including Sikkim
2007 – VHAA inaugurates its new training hall at the office premises, Jyotinagar
2008 VHAA starts strategic work on tobacco control -
350 public buses made smoke free under Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT) of Assam.
ISBT campus Smoke free.
B.Baruah College campus smoke free.
Gauhati University Campus smoke free.
Tezpur university campus smoke free.
Chandra Kamal Bezbaruah commerce college of Jorhat.
Devraj Roy College and Golaghat Commerce College campus smoke free.
All schools under District Elementary Education Office and Inspector of Schools, Golaghat has declared Tobacco Free in the district of Golaghat dated 14th Novemeber’2011.
Capacity building of enforcement officials of Golaghat district and a draft steering committee has been formed.
Memorandum to Deputy Commissioner, Golaghat accompanied by 400 signatures collected from school students for smoke free Golaghat.
350 NCC cadets and guide’s group, 600 school students, 450 college students, ANM’s, Anganwadi workers, SHG groups, school administrative staffs and teachers, person in charge of public places, civil society groups and youth clubs were oriented on tobacco control both the district of Kamrup and Golaghat.
Media Advocacy and sensitization and regular press releases on tobacco and related issues both regional and national dailies.
Conducted survey Gutkha packaging study and price tracking on tobacco products after the increased of tax.
Development and updated of tobacco control website. (www.rctfi.org)
State level resource center for tobacco control.
Advocated a pledge by CM of Assam to save the million Indian lives from Tobacco menace dated 2.07.11.
IEC materials developed in print and audio distributed to all possible sections of the society in both the districts.
Issuance of section 144CrPC by district Administration of Kamrup on ban of sale of Gutkha within 200 metres radius of any educational institutions dtd 8th August 2011.
Issuance of section 144 CrPC by Additional District Magistrate, Golaghat on ban on sale of Gutkha in the district dated 11th July 2011.
Existence of strong coalition network for Tobacco Control with like-minded organization in both the districts.
Public Awareness Campaigns on all significant days of the year. (Women’s Day, World No Tobacco Day, Gandhi Jayanti, Children’s Day etc.
