There is an urgent need to spread awareness about ill effects of consumption of tobacco and for it sign boards near the educational institutes should be placed said the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Om Prakash while undertaking a meeting of state level steering committee on the effective implementation of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) at state secretariat here on Wednesday.
In the meeting the ACS directed the Director National Health Mission (NHM), Chandresh Kumar to give top priority for anti tobacco campaign. He said that hotels, markets and other public places should be freed from tobacco. Om Prakash said that penalties should be slapped on those found smoking at public places. He said that there is a provision of punitive action on those selling tobacco products to minors and it should be effectively implemented. The ACS also ordered ban on sale of tobacco products near 100 meter periphery of educational institutes.