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District to ban tobacco products in public places

Move to save passive smokers being taken
Last Updated 26 February 2015, 19:13 IST

Superintendent of Police Annamalai said provisions of  Cigarettes & other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Supply & Distribution) Acts (COTPA) 2003 would be strictly implemented across the district by the first week of April.

Addressing district level officers here at the awareness meet held in SP office on Thursday, he said tobacco products will be banned in all public areas. Stringent measures including fine and imprisonment would be introduced on the violations. He added Udupi should be declared as the COTPA compliance district on the sidelines of the Gadag , Chikkamagaluru and Kolar district in State. These districts are completely adherence to the rules put forth under COTPA Act.

At least there should be 80 per cent  compliance. He said measures are taken to save passive smokers who suffer equally as smokers. In fact the affect will be more intensified on the passive smokers. He added that India spends at least Rs one lakh crore for the treatment of the diseases incurred owing to the tobacco related disease. While Karnataka spends nearly 600 core on treatments. He added that the government stakeholders should take stringent measures for implementation of the provisions of the programme.

 He added that as many as 367 cases are booked under section 4 of COTPA in the district since February 2015. As many as 56400 fine is been collected.He added tobacco kills six million people  each year.

He charted out the blue print to effectively implement provisions under the COTPA, 2003. With the active participation from the district administration, Annamalai set a deadline of 30 days by which they wish to attain the tobacco compliance status. “Police department will put its strong foot forward in implementing tobacco control measures in association with other departments,” he added.

He explained department heads about their role in implementation and system of reporting on daily basis to district police headquarters. After Gadag, Kolar and Chikkamagaluru districts, it’s the turn of Udupi district to rise to the tobacco control challenge, he added.
Social obligation

Home Department  Nodal Agency Officer John Kennedy said Section 4.5 6(a). 6(b) and 7 is important in view of implementation. He said there should be 80 per cent awareness. He explained the burden of tobacco and the need for effective implementation of COTPA provisions. He asked all officers to take up this initiative as a social obligation to serve the society, he added.

SP instructed officials with guidelines like ensuring display of boards stating ban of tobacco products sale in the 100 yards jurisdiction of education institutions and related display of boards explaining the same. One week time has been given to all the institutions through education officers who were present at the meet if any one fails will face strict action from police department of the concerned jurisdiction.

He directed the officials to ensure ban on smoking in public places including bus stand, parks, hotel and restaurants, bakery, shops, pan shops, cinema theatres, private and government office premises. Also, to see into it that related warning boards are installed in these places within 7 days.

Ensuring action if concerned individual or authorities fail to display warning boards pertaining to tobacco control. The officials should ensuring clearing of tobacco product advertisements in public places and at the point of sales. Kick starting of a 30 days special drive starting from March first week to ensure proper implementation of COTPA provisions in every police station limits headed by CPI, PI or Sub Inspectors was initiated on the occasion.

All department authorities have also given instructions to hold awareness programmes at all panchayat and village level to speed up the tobacco control measures. All police officials have been instructed not to tone down the above directions but work hard to ensure the district attaining the tobacco compliance status with the set deadline.

A directive has also been given to all police stations to send daily reports on the COTPA implementation and related cases registered to the office of district SP. Officers from Health, Education, Municipality, Fisheries, Transport, Information, representatives from ZP, private hospitals representatives, food and civil supply department officers have participated and assured for the related support and display of boards within the deadline fixed.

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(Published 26 February 2015, 19:13 IST)

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