The Punjab Government has decided to set up Tobacco De-Addiction Centres in all 22 districts to help the cigarette addicts to give away smoking.
State Health Secretary and FDA Commissioner Hussan lal, while presiding over a State level coordination committee on Tobacco Control, said it has been found that people who want to give away smoking do not find any expert help that can help them to get weaned away from smoking in a scientific and professional manner.
He said that the expert psychologists, physiologists and yoga experts would be associated and giving up smoking would be made a mass movement.
lal said that the sale of loose cigarettes or tobacco, chewable tobacco products and E-Cigarettes were completely banned in Punjab.
Strict action under law would be taken against the shopkeepers who violate various provisions of COTPA and FSSAI, he said.
The licence of a commercial establishment can be cancelled in case of violation of Tobacco Control Act as per latest notification of the Punjab Government, he said while appealing to all the stakeholder departments to co-ordinate in this endeavour.
Targeting the youth in “no tobacco drive”, lal said that the Government took a momentous decision designating all higher secondary school and college principals as nodal officers in challaning all those found smoking in public places violating COTPA.
It was also suggested in the meeting that masses should be involved for creating awareness about ill effects of tobacco and nicotine.