Delhi Government had launched an initiative to declare its various departments as ‘tobacco-free zones’. The departments of health, education, police and transport will soon be declared as tobacco-free zones as part of Delhi Government’s drive to make the national Capital tobacco-free. The aim is to ban smoking and chewing of raw tobacco products like paan, khaini and zarda on the premises of these departments and set an example for others to follow.
To take forward the initiative, the Health Department has sought support from health centres, hospitals, medical colleges of Delhi Government, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, New Delhi Medical Council (NDMC), Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) and Railways to ensure there is no tobacco consumption on their premises.
“We have appealed to all those in-charge of health centres, hospitals, medical colleges of Delhi Government, MCD, NDMC, CGHS and Railways to follow specific tasks to ensure there is no tobacco consumption on their premises,” said SK Arora, Additional Director (Health).
Consumption of tobacco products on these premises will invite a fine, which may go up to Rs1 lakh or 6 months imprisonment. The people visiting these departments have been made aware of the harmful effects of tobacco usage, Arora said.
As a part of the initiative, nodal officers have been appointed in police stations, hospitals, health centres, dispensaries, schools, colleges, universities, DTC depots and terminals who would warn people against tobacco usage besides issuing challans (up to Rs500) to people who would use and carry tobacco products on the department premises.