Health deptt launches anti-tobacco drive, violators fined

Srinagar, Jan 31: The Tobacco Control Cell of Directorate of Health Services Kashmir has launched a campaign about enforcement of National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) and Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003 in the valley.
Dr Mir Mushtaq, State Nodal Officer, NTCP, said the ant-tobacco drive has been launched in all the districts in Kashmir and COTPA violators have been fined.
The drive started at Bemina and adjoining areas in the vicinity of Children Hospital and SKIMS Medical College, Bemina, during which smokers at public places were also fined.
“During the enforcement drive, it was found that various street vendors were selling cigarettes and other tobacco products in violation of the COTPA Act. They were fined and cigarettes and other products were seized,” he said.
“We have started the enforcement drives during which Rs 3,000 was fined from erring shopkeepers in Srinagar and Rs 10,000 in Kupwara,” he said.
Dr Mushtaq said recently during the drive, advertisements promoting use of tobacco products were also removed at Polo View and other locations in Srinagar city.
“There is a need of enforcement. Tobacco is putting huge economic burden on people and it has health hazards associated. Such drives will limit the prevalence of smoking,” he said.
“As we all know, tobacco is a known health hazard and is responsible for many diseases prevalent in society, particularly various cancers, cardiac diseases and many more,” he said.
The Nodal Officer also said it needs a multi-pronged strategy of different individuals, organizations and departments to coordinate and arrive at a comprehensive policy to defeat this grave issue which is going to have serious consequences if they fail to control it.
Officials said all the government schools in Jammu and Kashmir have been declared as tobacco free that include 455 govt. schools in Kashmir only.
According to a provision in the COPTA Act, sale of tobacco or related products are banned within 100 metres of educational institutes and airports. As per the Act, the selling of loose cigarettes is prohibited but these are sold openly in markets even to minors.
As per the figures of NTCP, a total of 19,877 challans were conducted in Jammu and Kashmir in the past four years.
According to officials, around 75 percent of cigarettes sale is being sold through loose cigarettes in India and every gazetted officer, according to the COTPA, is authorized to challan the person found smoking in a public place.
Officials also said all the heads of the Health Department were provided challan books and signages for enforcement but there was “no sign of implementation” on the ground.
In 2021, a survey conducted by the Union Health Ministry had revealed that Kashmir spends a whopping Rs 600 cr on the purchase of tobacco products annually with Srinagar, Anantnag and Baramulla districts topping the numbers.