In a fresh directive, the state government has banned the use of cigarette, tobacco, pan masala and gutka in government offices. Violation of the ban will invite disciplinary action against the erring person.
Chief Secretary Anup Chandra Pandey said that though a ban on tobacco use at public places was in place, still people were smoking cigarette and chewing gutka and pan masala in government offices.
He asked all additional chief secretaries, principal secretaries, secretaries, commissioners and heads of departments to ensure effective implementation of the ban.
Pandey said in his directives that the use of tobacco in any form was hazardous for health and government personnel should be told about this.
Incidentally, the government had banned use of gutka, tobacco and paan masala in government offices on March 26, 2017 after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited the secretariat for the first time.
Livid at the sight of betel-stained walls of the building housing the Chief Minister’s office, Yogi banned the use of paan and tobacco products in schools, colleges, hospitals and other government buildings. He also asked officials to stop chewing paan and paan masala on duty.
After this, the Chief Minister administered a sanitation pledge to officials, and asked them to ensure that it was effectively implemented on the lines of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
