Lighting up on campus? Fine is Rs 200

If you are a Delhi university student, think before you light up.

If you are a Delhi university student, think before you light up.

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Any student caught smoking on college campuses of the university could be fined Rs 200.

The colleges of the university have taken this decision to impose the fine in an effort to make the campuses tobacco free.

The decision has been approved by Vice-Chancellor Deepak Pental, but the colleges are free to decide whether they want to impose the fine or not.

"The stress is to first educate students about the ill-effects of smoking and use of tobacco through seminars and cultural programmes. The imposition of fines is the last resort," said Professor Dr S.K. Srivastav of Hansraj College on the sidelines of a two-day anti-tobacco event organised by the Delhi University Smoke Free Initiative (DUSFI) in association with World Lung Foundation.

Around 20 colleges took part in declamation, painting and nukkad natak competitions, which highlighted the harmful effects of tobacco held, at Hansraj College.

The foundation also announced the opening of three cessation centres in Mehrauli, Gulabibagh, Jhandewala to help addicts lead a tobacco-free life within a month.

“With the co-operation of Delhi University, the DUSFI is moving towards making the university a model tobacco-free institution in the world,” said Dr G.R. Khatri, president of World Lung Foundation.