Violating anti-tobacco laws will be no more easy. The Union Home Ministry has asked the cops to take strict action against those found guilty of violating the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003 and include the data in the monthly crime review meetings at the district level.
Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami has recently written a letter to Directors General of Police (DGPs) of all States saying that “the field formations of the security apparatus also need to be sensitised to contain the menace.” Goswami has also emphasised on institutionalisation of the implementation system for effective enforcement of the Act.
The move holds importance, given that in view of poor implementation, no one seems to care smoking ban in public as per COTPA which also outlines punishments for anyone advertising or selling cigarettes near educational institutions or to minors.As per the Act, a police officer, not below the rank of sub-inspector, can levy a maximum of `200 as fine on those found smoking in public places.
The recent instructions which asks the DGPs to “take personal attention” to ensure that all the provisions of the COTPA are “implemented strictly,” is expected to deter violators from consuming tobacco in public places.As per letter, COTPA violations have to be included as one of the agenda items in the monthly crime review meetings at the district level. Information and reports have to be forwarded to the Union Ministries of Home Affairs and Health and Family Welfare thrice a year for monitoring at the national level.
The COTPA, enacted in 2003 and applicable to the entire country, aims to discourage the consumption of cigarettes and other tobacco products by imposing progressive restrictions and to protect non-smokers from second-hand smoke.
“This is a huge victory. The letter puts COTPA enforcement squarely in the agenda of all the police forces in the country. This would help increase awareness about COTPA,” said Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, Professor and surgeon of head and neck cancer at Mumbai-based Tata Memorial Centre.
Currently, India has around 275 million tobacco users. Tobacco is expected to kill over 1.5 million people in India annually by 2020 if more users are not persuaded to kick the habit, as per a report by the International Tobacco Control Project (ITCP).