Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
* Raids to continue in other districts too
Chandigarh, Punjab has become the first state in the country by strictly acting upon the implementation of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act 2005 as the Tobacco Control Cell today served five court challans to shopkeepers who were indulging in practices of selling loose cigarettes/tobacco.
Stating this here today Health and Family Welfare Minister Punjab, Mr. Surjit Kumar Jayani said that a team of Tobacco Control Cell conducted a raid in Hoshiarpur Sabzi Mandi, where it has been found that some shopkeepers were selling loose Cigarettes violating section 7 of COTPA. The team has served on the spot court challans to the violators. The raid was conducted on the directions issued by the Minister for effective implementation of ban imposed on sale of loose cigarettes/tobacco in the state. The Minister has also directed the Deputy Commissioner, Mrs. Anandita Mitra to carry forward the objective of state in this regard and be very strict in curbing tobacco menace in her district.
The District Level Tobacco Control team headed by Dr. Munish Kumar conducted raid in Sabzi Mandi area of Rahimpur and challaned 5 shopkeepers. The team also seized loose cigarettes in opened/unsealed cigarette packs from them. COTPA was being strictly implemented in district, he said. He also said as per the provisions of act violators face punishment up to 1 year with a fine of Rs. 1000 or both. He said second or subsequent conviction will attract imprisonment of a term up to 2 years and with a fine up to Rs. 3000/- or both.
Meanwhile, Mrs.Mrs. Vini Mahajan, Principal Secretary Health said such raids will continue in future to enforce the ban on the sale of loose cigarettes / loose tobacco in Punjab. She further mentioned that the ban on loose cigarettes will curb the easy availability of single sticks of cigarettes to the children and youth which were cheaper to buy. This will increase the age of initiation and decrease prevalence of Tobacco usage. She also lauded the efforts of Distt. Tobacco Control Cell Hoshiarpur for this path breaking action which should be replicated in other districts too.
Complimenting the Punjab government for taking stringent measures to control tobacco menace in the state, Mrs. Mira Aghi, Ph.D. Behavioural Scientist and a Communication Expert said that the state government has evolved an otrganised and effective strategy and other states should also replicate the government agenda to tackle the tobacco control measures especially in checking the sale of loose cigarettes.
