Despite complaints, no action taken to close tobacco vends near college, school

Though the district administration and health department had invited a team from the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) Chandigarh and State Tobacco Control Programme to get the status of smoke/tobacco free city for Ludhiana, the very basic rule of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) is being violated.

Though the district administration and health department had invited a team from the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) Chandigarh and State Tobacco Control Programme to get the status of smoke/tobacco free city for Ludhiana, the very basic rule of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) is being violated.

There are two tobacco vends near SCD Government College, Civil Lines, which fall in the 100m radius of the college. One tobacco vend is near the college parking and the other one is outside the Rose Garden. The tobacco vend outside the Rose Garden also falls in the 100m radius of Government Meritorious School, which is near SCD Government College.

According to the COTPA rules, all educational and religious institutes are declared smoke-free zone within 100m radius, which means there can't be a tobacco shop within 100m radius area of an educational institute.

SCD Government College principal Dharam Pal Singh had already written a letter to the deputy commissioner, requesting him to close the tobacco vends near college.

The letter was written on February 7 by the principal that was forwarded to the civil surgeon office on February 16, but no action has been taken yet.

Kumar said, “There cannot be a tobacco vend near an educational institute in the radius of 100m. I haven't received any complaint yet, but will check it and take the action accordingly.” vandana.singh@hindsutantimes.com