Home secy move to curb smoking

In a move to further restrict smoking at public places, the Union home secretary Anil Goswami has written to the director- general of police of state governments/ Union territories to incorporate Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products ( Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce Production, Supply and Distribution) Act ( COTPA) violations in the monthly crime review for strengthening the public health measure at the district and sub- district level.

In a letter written earlier in May, the secretary has suggested that violations of COTPA be incorporated as one of the agenda items in the monthly crime review meetings at the district level. “Further, at the state/ district level, information should be generated and sent to the ministry of home affairs and the ministry of health and family welfare, thrice a year for monitoring at the national level,” reads the letter.

The secretary has asked the DGPs to give personal attention to the issue to ensure that the provisions of COTPA are implemented strictly, in view of the health hazards that are imminent with the use of tobacco. “A co- ordinated effort has to be made to discourage its consumption through various means- social, economic, educational and legal. The field formations of the security apparatus also need to be sensitised to contain the menace,” further says the letter.

Welcoming the move, Bhavna Mukhopadhyay, executive director, Voluntary Health Association of India ( VHAI) said, “By issuing this letter, home ministry has demonstrated tremendous commitment towards safe guarding the health of people of India and protecting the masses, especially the youth from the growing menace of tobacco addiction. It is now important for every state to effectively implement various provisions of the COTPA act and rules, in letter and spirit.”

The COTPA, enacted in 2003 and applicable to the entire country, aims to discourage consumption of cigarettes and other tobacco products.