With May 31 being No Tobacco Day,the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) launched a two-day drive against vendors selling tobacco products near educational institutions in the city. While it has raided as many as 262 shops in the past six months,the FDA collected fines amounting to Rs 2,900 on Monday.
Schools and colleges are required to display boards carrying warnings against tobacco products and this move has had an impact,claim FDA officials.
In the past six months,the FDA collected Rs 67,565 as fine from 100 persons and 262 shops located within 100 metres of several schools and colleges. One of the provisions of the Cigarette and Tobacco Products Act,2003,is that there no shop within 100 metres of an education institution should sell tobacco products.
Chandrashekhar Salunke,assistant commissioner,FDA,said a special intensified drive has been launched on Monday. From two places like Shivajinagar and Swargate bus stand,we have collected fine amounting to Rs 2,900. There is an impact as collection of fines for smoking at public places immediately leads to a check among the others,said Food and Drug Joint Commissioner Sanjay Patil.
The World Health Organization (WHO) observes World No Tobacco Day on May 31 every year. Last year,the focus was on tobacco use among women. This year,the focus is on the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death. Worldwide,approximately five million persons may die of heart attack,strokes,cancers,and other diseases owing to tobacco use this year,says WHO. One death due to the use of tobacco products occurs every six seconds.
Several rallies have been planned to create awareness about the ill-effects of tobacco use. The rally will include Prevent Addiction through Children’s Education’ PACE Group,and will see participation by other organisations and companies such as Chaitanya Hasya Club,Cipla,Chest Research Foundation.
“We have been able to interact with at least 8-10,00 children by making our presentations at 28 such schools and colleges and will screen the film Pratigya at a function tomorrow,” said Dr Vandana Joshi of the PACE group. According to Dr K T Mohan,who conducted a workshop at Aditya Birla Memorial Hospital on the issue of smoking,said according to the global adult survey,tobacco consumption in youths is on the rise. Almost 14.6 per cent of youths aged between 13 and 15 are consuming tobacco,” he said.
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