Raipur: Under the chairmanship of Collector Dr. Priyanka Shukla, a district level meeting of the coordination committee as part of the Tobacco Control Program was organized. To encourage interdepartmental coordination and adherence to the COTPA 2003 for tobacco control, all the officers of all the departments were present during the meeting of the committee.
Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr. Avinash Khare and District Advisor Dr. Vinod gave information about the process involved in creating a tobacco-free educational institution or office. Moreover, they also gave suggestions regarding action under the provisions of Sections 4 and 6 along with Sections 5 and 7.
According to Article 4, smoking is prohibited in public places. A fine of Rs. 200 is applicable in the event of a breach of the rule. Article 5 is concerned with the prohibition of the advertisement of cigarettes and other tobacco products. For the breach of the rule, there is a provision of a fine of Rs. 1,000 and a penalty of two years for the first time. For the second time, there is a provision of a fine of Rs. 5000 and a 5-year imprisonment. Article 6 is concerned with the prohibition of the sale of tobacco products near educational institutions and has a provision of a fine of Rs. 200 in the event of a breach of the rule.
Article – 7,8,9 is linked with the prohibition on the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products without specific health warnings. The Health Department, Police Department, Food and Drug Administration Department, Municipality, Labor Department, and other departments regularly conduct challan proceedings. In the meeting, it was said that under the National Tobacco Control Program, there is also a facility of drug de-addiction center under the District Hospital in Kanker.
