– Road towards a Tobacco Free Punjab
Dr. Rakesh K Gupta,
State Programme Officer, National Tobacco Control, Program
(NTCP), Punjab
As per GATS 2010 report, about 12% of population in Punjab uses Tobacco in any form.
Considering the population of 2.75 Crores, About 25 lakh adult population in Punjab uses Tobacco in some form or the other.
About 50 citizens of Punjab out of more than 3000 Indians die every day due to tobacco use………
Prevalence of Tobacco Use in Punjab
Tobacco Prevalence in Punjab
Tobacco Smoke Free Districts of Punjab
• Under the campaign of making Punjab Tobacco Smoke Free : – All the districts of Punjab have been declared as
'Tobacco Smoke Free' (TSF) on the basis of compliance study report by School of Public Health, PGIMER Chandigarh.
– Hoshiarpur City was declared as the first COTPA compliant city of Punjab
81.4 84.1
85.7 86.1
87.9 88.5
93.25 93.6 93.8
96.1
91.3
96.4
88.8 89.1 89.5
96.7
87.6 88.2
95.3
91.04
70
75
80
85
90
95
100
SAS N
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Sri Mu
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Bath
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Ho
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Kap
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Patiala
Fero
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Faridko
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ala
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Tobacco Smoke Free Districts of Punjab
MAIN OUTCOMES (IN TERMS OF SEC-4,SEC 6) % OF
COMPLIANCE AS REPORTED BY PGI CHANDIGARH
No Smoking Signages
No Smoking Signages
State/District Level Activities
• Every year 31st May is celebrated as “World No Tobacco Day”.
• This year on World No Tobacco Day the focus in Punjab is on Tobacco Free Educational Institutions
• Meeting of State level Coordination Committee held under the Chairpersonship of Principal Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, Punjab on 03-02-2014 , 27-11-14 and Chaired by Hon’ble HM Pb on 16/4/15
• Monthly monitoring at State level in Civil Surgeons’ Conference and at District level in District Health Society.
• Guidelines for implementation of "Smoke Free Rules" and Health Workers Guide released on 20-4-13.
• Section 5 (Tobacco Advertisement Point of Sale) of COTPA is also being implemented simultaneously. Survey has been done in all the districts to assess the implementation. The implementation has been found to be satisfactory.
• Meeting of Consultation to develop Guidelines and Protocol for Action against Sale of Loose Cigarettes/Tobacco and advertisement of Tobacco Products was held on 25-06-2015 under chairpersonship of Secretary Health cum Commissioner FDA, Punjab .
State/District Level Activities Contd…….
The members of State Level Coordination Committee & their
roles are as follows:-
Sr. No. Departments/Agencies Roles
1.
Principal Secretary /Secretary
(Health and Family Welfare) or
MD NRHM as Member
Secretary
Regular monitoring, review and supervision of National Tobacco
Control Programme
2. Principal Secretary (Home) his
nominee
Direct the State Police Heads to enforce all the provisions
under COTPA
Regular review of COTPA implementation in the monthly crime review
meetings and regular collection of violation
Related data.
3.
Principal Secretary (School /
Higher Education) or his
nominee
Implementation of tobacco-free school guidelines in all schools.
Make all schools tobacco-free premises.
Inclusion of harmful effects of tobacco use in the school curriculum
4. Principal Secretary /Secretary
(Finance) or his nominee
Administration and harmonization of Tax on all tobacco products.
Ensure reduction in illicit trade and tax evasion by tobacco industry.
5 Secretary Labour / Labour
commissioner or his nominee
Ensure that all tobacco products manufactured in
Registered factories print the pictorial health warnings.
Sensitization of Bidi Rollers about the health hazards of bidi rolling
Vocational training to bidi rollers for alternative livelihood.
The members of State Level Coordination Committee & their roles are as
follows:-
Sr. No. Departments/Agencies Roles
6.
Secretary Transport/Transport
Commissioner or his nominee
All public transport vehicles to be Smoke free / Tobacco- free.
No direct/indirect advertisement of tobacco products like Gutkha , Pan
masala on state transport bus panels and its premises. Display of anti-
tobacco messages on the Transport department properties including
bus panels, bus stands, bus tickets etc
7.
Divisional Manager (Ambala
Cant & Ferozpur) from
Department of Railways
All the railway platforms, its premises and trains to be tobacco free.
No sale of Gutkha, Pan masala and other tobacco production railway
platforms and trains. Display of anti-tobacco messages on the railway
properties including train panels, platform , railway tickets etc.
8. Secretary Public Relations/
Information or his nominee
State wide public awareness campaigns on harmful effects of tobacco
use and provisions under COTPA. Develop awareness campaign
materials for display at local events, melas, state IEC campaigns.
Assist in development/adaptation of local IEC campaign materials for
display and dissemination at local events, melas, local IEC campaigns.
9
Ms.Bhavna Mukhopadhyay,
Executive Director Voluntary
Health Association of India
(VHAI)
Integrate tobacco control in all their ongoing interventions.
Monitor violations of tobacco control laws and bring them to the
notice of Authorities/steering committee. Collaborate with State
Government/Local Government on Awareness generation. Work with
the Communities and CBOs, Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban
Local Bodies to create awareness against tobacco use and strengthen
the implementation of COTPA.
Sr. No. Departments/Agencies Roles
10
1 Mr.Varun Roojam
IAS,DC Jalandhar
2 Mr. Amit Dhaka, IAS,
D.C Mansa
Represent District Administration and highlight the
concerns of the implementation at District level.
11 Secretary (Law) or his
nominee
Advise the state level committee on legal issues pertaining
to implementation of COTPA.
12. Secretary (Panchayati
Raj) or his nominee
Enforcement of COTPA through the 3-tier elected,
Panchayati Raj Institution in the rural areas.
13 MD NRHM as Member
Secretary Member Secretary for convening the meeting.
The members of State Level Coordination Committee & their roles are as
follows:-
STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF ANTI-TOBACCO LAW(COTPA) IN
PUNJAB
MPOWER
Action Area Present Status
Monitor the
tobacco
epidemic
GATS- 2010 Global Adult Tobacco Survey. Tobacco prevalence data is available from: National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-Expenditure surveys such as National Sample
Survey Organization (NSSO) Global Youth Tobacco Survey Compliance surveys performed by School of Public Health, PGI Chandigarh in all 22
districts
Protect people
from tobacco
smoke (Section
4 of COTPA)
“The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade & Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 (COTPA) , Prohibits Smoking in all Public Places.
All the districts have already been declared as “Tobacco Smoke Free Districts” on the basis of Compliance Study by the School of Public Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh.
Regular monthly monitoring of implementation of COTPA. Permanent District level Task Force has been constituted in all the districts for monitoring
of COTPA and abuse of Nicotine January 2013 to Dec 2013, 22099 violators have been challaned. In the year 2014, 22,834 violators have been Challaned wef Jan.to December 14. In January to May 2015, 12316 violators have been Challaned .
Govt. of Punjab issued DO letters to all the Deputy Commissioners & Civil Surgeons to promulgate Section 144 against Hukkah bars as they violate all section of COTPA.
State Level Coordination Committee for Tobacco Control has been notified .and met three times
Chief Secretary Punjab has written a DO to all DCs for strict implementation of COTPA
MPOWER Action Area Present Status
Offer help to those who
want to quit
Limited trained manpower on cessation. De-addiction centres present in all Districts. They are providing cessation services. Orientation workshop of Psychiatrists and Psychiatric
social workers conducted on 30-10-14 at GMC Fkt and on 6/7/15 in SIHFW Mohali
Staff of TOLL FREE No.104 will be trained for counselling of tobacco/nicotine addicts
STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF ANTI-TOBACCO LAW(COTPA) IN
PUNJAB
MPOWER Action Area Present Status
Warn about the
harm of tobacco
(Section 7 -COTPA
2003 )
Section 7 -COTPA 2003 The COTPA,2003 mandates display of Pictorial Health Warnings on all tobacco product packs.
The health warnings occupy presently 40% of principal display area only on front side of the pack. It was to be increased to 85% wef from April 15 (Notification has been kept in abeyance)
Sale of loose tobacco & cigarettes in the State has been banned wef 6/1/15 .Court cases have been launched in Hoshiarpur,Faridkot ,Patiala and Jalandhar Distts against the vendors.
STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF ANTI-TOBACCO LAW(COTPA) IN
PUNJAB
MPOWER Action
Area
Present Status
Enforce bans on
advertising,
promotions &
sponsorship
(Section 5-
COTPA 2003 )
Section 5- COTPA 2003 : The anti-tobacco legislation, COTPA, prohibits direct/indirect advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products
The amended rules of 2005 provide for: Ban on sale of tobacco products through vending machines Ban on sale of tobacco products by minors Restrictions on the content, size and number of point of sale of advertisements Ban on visible stacking of tobacco products at the point of sale to prevent easy access to minors To prevent brand sharing and surrogate advertising of tobacco products; ‘indirect advertising’ has
been comprehensively defined. Restrictions on display of tobacco products or their use in movies or television. DO No. P-16011/04/09-PH- 1 dated 24-11-11 written to all State Transport Commissioners
/secretaries regarding banning of advertisement of Tobacco products. Recently notices have been issued to Tobacco product vendors to remove advertisement on point
of sale. Section 5 (Tobacco Advertisement Point of Sale) of COTPA is also being implemented
simultaneously. Survey has been done in all the districts to assess the implementation. The implementation has been found to be satisfactory.
Raise taxes on
tobacco products
Taxes on tobacco products in India fall well below the rate recommended by the World Bank from 65% to 80% of retail price. VAT on Cigarettes in Punjab has been increased to 30% plus cess from 20% Bidis need to be included in tax net
STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF ANTI-TOBACCO LAW(COTPA) IN
PUNJAB
Action taken under Food Safety Standard Act (FSSAI)
Action
Area Present Status
Smokeless Tobacco
products/ chewable
tobacco
Prohibition of Manufacture, sale & Consumption of Smoke Less/chewable products in Punjab has been done w.e.f dated 05/09/12 under section 2.3.4.of FSSA as 90% of the Oral Cancer cases are attributed to consumption of chewable tobacco products.
Flavored Tobacco has been banned wef 28/11/14 two truck loads seized in Patiala and action initiated under FSSAI. Action has been initiated in many other districts also.
* Source: GATS Survey
Action to be taken against Sale of Electronic
Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS)/ E-Cigarettes
Action
Area Present Status
Electronic Nicotine
Delivery System
(E-Cigarettes)
A meeting was organised by MoHFW on 10-07-13 to formulate guidelines for regulating manufacture and sale of E-Cigarettes in India under the chairpersonship of JS (SG), MohFW, GoI. State Drug Controller, FDA Punjab & State Nodal Officer, Tobacco control cell, Punjab participated & presented a protocol which can be followed for this purpose. Minutes of Meeting have been circulated to all participants. SDC has issued a letter to all DIs that sale of E-Cigarettes is illegal under Drugs and Cosmetics act. E-Cigarettes seized in three districts and court cases launched under Drugs and Cosmetics Act Click here to view http://pbhealth.gov.in/ban_e-CIgg.pdf
Good Practices adopted by STCC Punjab
Notifications for COTPA
Implementation
Notifications for COTPA Implementation
Notification to authorize the competent persons to Act against any person who commits any offence under Section 4 or Section 6 of the said Act , at any Public Place issued on 24th May 2010.
Click here to view
http://pbhealth.gov.in/tob/Authorized%20officials%20under%20Section%204%20&%206%20Notification%20No.%201022%20Dated%2024-5-2010.pdf
Notifications Contd……
Notification regarding constitution of District and State Level Tobacco Control Committees issued on 20th May 2008.
Click here to view
http://pbhealth.gov.in/tob/State%20level%20and%20District%20Level%20Tobacco%20Control%20Committe
e%20No.%20945%20Dated%2020-5-2008.pdf
Notifications Contd……
Notification regarding constitution of Permanent District Task Force issued on 09-04-2014 to monitor COTPA and abuse of Nicotine in chemical form.
http://pbhealth.gov.in/Notification%209-04-14.pdf
Notification regarding Constitution of State Level & District Level Monitoring Committees issued on 17th January, 2013.
Click here to view
http://pbhealth.gov.in/tob/State%20Level%20&%20District%20Level%20Tobacco%20Monitoring%20Committee%20Notification%20No.%20151%20Dated%2017-1-2013.pdf
Notifications Contd……
Notifications Contd……
Notification to authorize Public Analyst, State Food Lab, Chandigarh as competent authority to test Tobacco and Nicotine in any product.
Click here to view
http://pbhealth.gov.in/tob/tbc_noti.pdf
Notifications Contd……
Notification for prohibition of Manufacture, sale & Consumption of Smoke Less/chewable products including flavoured Tobacco in Punjab has been done under FSSA.
Click here to view
http://pbhealth.gov.in/ban_gutkhka.pdf
Notifications Contd……
Notification for constitution of Permanent State level Task Force issued on 17-07-2015 to monitor COTPA and abuse of Nicotine in chemical form
Click here to view
http://pbhealth.gov.in/PSLTF.jpg
Notifications Contd……
Notification for constitution of Empowered Committee to implement Article 5.3 of WHO Framework on Tobacco Control dated 13-07-15
Click here to view
http://pbhealth.gov.in/FCTC.jpg
Inclusion of COTPA violation/Hukkah Bars ban in Monthly Crime Review by Police Deptt
D.O. From PSHFW to Food Supply Department regarding restricting pack of cigarettes to 10
D.O. From PSHFW to Excise & Taxation Department to take action against illicit tobacco
products
WNTD 2015 Award
• Every year, the World Health Organization recognizes individuals or organizations from the six regions for their accomplishments in the area of tobacco control such as research, capacity building, promotion of policy or legislation and advocacy to enhance tobacco control.
• State Tobacco Control Cell, Government of Punjab has been awarded the Regional Director’s Appreciation Award 2015, in recognition of the contributions to tobacco control in Punjab.
WHO WNTD AWARD PLAQUE
Android App
• Android App Launched in Punjab to report any violations of Cigarettes & Other Tobacco Products Act 2003/ Ban on chewable Tobacco/ Ban on E-cigarettes.
Inter state coordination committee
• For coordination between Tobacco control Cells and FDA of Punjab, Haryana and UT Chandigarh, a committee has been constituted under Chairmanship of C-FDA Punjab. The committee is holding meetings regularly and sharing information related to violations with each other
Incorporating the condition of COTPA for granting licenses
Punjab Govt. issued a circular regarding incorporating the implementation of COTPA in general conditions for granting License to any commercial establishment.
Notifications regarding ban on Loose Cigarette/Tobacco
Capacity Building
• Various Workshops have been organized by World Health Organization,
International Union against Tuberculosis & Lung Diseases & other NGOs for capacity building.
• These workshops have been attended by State & District level Officers.
• Advocacy workshop for Media and NGOs 27-1-14
• SLCC Meeting 3-2-14 , 27-11-14 and 16/4/15
• Advocacy workshop for Nicotine Abuse 11-3-14
• Workshop of Psychiatrists & Psychiatrist Social workers held on 30-10-14 and 6/7/15 for Tobacco/Nicotine de-addiction
• Capacity building WS for all members of DLTF 16/3/15
• SLWS for stake holders on 6/7/15
• Achievement of Punjab in Tobacco Control
recognised in world forums. Papers regarding
Tobacco Smoke Free Punjab and ENDS accepted in
World Lung Conference( WLC) Barcelona held on
1/11/14, National Conference on Tobacco or Health
held in Mumbai on 15thDecember 2014 and
Abstracts accepted for WLC being held in Cape
town
• An article on E-Cigarettes by SPO was published in
International Journal - Tobacco Control.
Recognition at National/International Levels
Challans Issued to Violators
Year Wise Detail of Challans
S.No.
Year
No. of Challans
1. Oct.2008 to December 2010 1848
2. Year 2011 1831
3.
Year 2012
13090
4.
Jan, 13 to Dec 2013 23968
5
Jan. 2014 to Dec 2014 22834
6
Jan - June 2015 6486
Release of Guidelines for Implementation of Smoke Free Rules & Health workers Guide by Punjab Govt.
• On the occasion of State Level meeting Guidelines for implementation of Smoke Free Rules & Tobacco Free Educational Institutions & Health Workers Guide have been released by, Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare, Punjab on 1oth April 2013 .
• Guidelines will help District & Sub District Level law implementers for effective implementation of COTPA Act, 2003 to make Punjab a Tobacco Smoke Free State.
• Health Workers Guide will help in sensitization of Field level Health Workers about the law & importance of it’s effective implementation. It contains details of health
effects of tobacco on human body.
Click here to view
http://pbhealth.gov.in/Health%20Workers%20Guide.pdf
RAID AT HUKKAH BAR
Surprise Raid at Hookah Bar
• Surprise raids were made at Hookah Bar named “ Nawab Cafe” on 11th April 2013 & “Arabic Infusion” on 31st Dec 2013 in Mohali. Sample suspected of containing Nicotine and Tobacco has been seized by Health Department and sent to Lab for testing.
• Appropriate Action will be taken by the department
after getting the test reports.
Newspaper Cutting
Hookah Bar-District Jalandhar
• A team from the Directorate Health services, members of District level task Force along with the officials of Police Department conducted a surprise raid at Hukkah Bar.
• 12 Hukkahs, 22 Pipes, Flavored tobacco & Tobacco molasses were seized.
Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (E-Cigarettes) have been seized in Hoshiarpur, Mohali & Ludhiana w.e.f. July 2014 to October 2014 & action initiated under Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
E-Cigarettes seized in State
Tobacco seized in State
Two trucks loaded
with Tobacco have
been seized by
Health Department in
Patiala.
Letter From Chief Secretary, Punjab
Chief Secretary Punjab has issued instructions to all DCs and Principal Secretaries of all stakeholder deptts to implement Anti-Tobacco law strictly
English Translation of DO issued by CS The Chief Secretary,
Government of Punjab (Branch-……….)
To,
All Deputy Commissioners & Senior Superintendents of Police, State of Punjab No. Dated Chd, 2014
Subject: Strict implementation of all sections of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003/Ban on chewing Tobacco under FSAAI/ Ban on Nicotine in Chemical form e.g. E-Cigarette under Drug & Cosmetic Act
You are quite aware of the fact that Tobacco consumption is very harmful and leads to many life threatening conditions like Cancer and Cardiovascular diseases. Annually it kills more than 12 Lakh People in India. Not only smokers, non-smokers are also its victims. Nearly 15% of young children in the age group of 13-15 yrs use Tobacco in Smoke form or other form (GYTS-2009) while 27.4 % boys and 8.3 % of girls in the age group of 15-24 yrs use tobacco (GATS). 32% of the Non-smokers at workplaces and 75% non-smokers at home are exposed to Second Hand Smoke. In the state of Punjab 12% of people are Tobacco users while 24% are exposed to Second Hand Smoke at work place & home. This is alarming and the Government of India has enacted COTPA-2003. It is the proper implementation of the Act which can safeguard the precious lives of the innocent people.
Punjab Government has initiated various measures to implement COTPA 2003. 18 districts have already been declared Tobacco Smoke Free after Compliance Study by School of Public Health PGI Chandigarh. Efforts are going on to get the remaining districts also declared as Tobacco Smoke Free. Continuous efforts are required to maintain the Tobacco Smoke free status.
Govt. of Punjab has also incorporated the implementation of COTPA in general conditions for granting licence to commercial establishments. If any violation found/noticed, license will be cancelled. Govt. of Punjab has also banned Gutkha and other food products containing Tobacco/Nicotine. Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (E-Cigarettes) has also been declared as illegal in Punjab under Drugs and Cosmetics act.
Sections of COTPA Penalties (Fine or imprisonment or both) Section 4: Prohibition on smoking in a public places
a) To the individual offender: Up to Rs.200/- b) To owner, manager or authorized officer: Fine equivalent to number of offences in public place
Section 5: Prohibition on advertisements of cigarettes and other tobacco products
a) 1st Offence: 2years/ Rs. 1000/- b) 2nd Offence: 5 years/ Rs. 5000/-
Section 6: Prohibition on the sale to minors and around educational institutes
Up to Rs. 200/-
Section 7, 8 & 9: Prohibition on the sale of Cigarettes & Other tobacco products without specific warnings
a) Manufacturer: 1st Offence: 2years/ Rs. 5000/- 2nd Offence: 5 years/ Rs. 10,000/-
b) Selling/Retailing 1st Offence: 1 years/ Rs. 1000/- 2nd Offence: 2 years/ Rs. 3,000/-
Ban on manufacture, sale or distribution of Gutkha, Pan Masala or any other food ingredient containing tobacco or Nicotine as one of the ingredients under Food Safety & Standard Act
Ban on ENDS/E-Cigarette under Drugs & Cosmetics Act
From the monthly reports regarding IEC and Challaning activities under COTPA, it has been
observed that most of these activities are being undertaken by Department of Health and Family Welfare. Participation of all Departments e.g. Police, Education, Local Govt., Transport, Excise and Taxation etc. are required for effective implementation. HODs of all the Departments must monitor the monthly reports at District and State level as per enclosed Format.
Block level Task force should be constituted by Deputy Commissioner on the pattern of Permanent District Level Task Force already in place for monitoring implementation of COTPA/ Gutkha ban/ Hukkah bars/E-Cigarettes etc.
In the next State Level Coordination Committee (SLCC) to be held shortly District wise and Department wise reports will be discussed. Encl: 1. Monitoring Formats 2. SLCC Notification 3. Circular regarding cancellation of license Chief Secretary, Government of Punjab
Ends. No. Misl./PB/2014 Dated, Chd, 2014
A copy forwarded to
1. The Principal Secretary, Govt. Of Punjab, Deptt. Of Home 2. The Principal Secretary, Govt. Of Punjab, Dept. Of Health & Family Welfare 3. The Principal Secretary, Govt. Of Punjab, Rural Development 4. The Principal Secretary, Govt. Of Punjab, Deptt. Of Finance 5. The Principal Secretary, Govt. Of Punjab, Excise & Taxation 6. The Principal Secretary, Govt. Of Punjab, School Education 7. The Principal Secretary, Govt. Of Punjab, Higher Education 8. Secretary, Govt. Of Punjab, Transport 9. Secretary Public Relations/Information, Punjab 10. Secretary, Govt. Of Punjab, Local Govt. 11. Secretary, Govt. Of Punjab, Labour 12. Secretary Health cum M.D. , NHM Punjab 13. Legal Remembrance 14. Divisional Manager (Ambala Cantt & Ferozepur) from Department of Railways 15. Director Health & Family Welfare, Punjab for information & necessary action please.
Chief Secretary, Government of Punjab
Letter From DGSE to all Schools
Letter issued from DGSE to all schools for making all schools Tobacco Free Schools.
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INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT PUNJAB
SPECIAL CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED TO KEEP A CHECK ON HUKKAH BARS
· STATE LEVEL TASK FORCE TO CHECK CASES OF VIOLATION OF TOBACCO CONTROL ACT/ E-
Cigarettes/Chewable tobacco
Chandigarh March 16: A State Level Sensitisation Workshop for members of district level Task Force
for Tobacco/Nicotine Control was held today in the State Institute of Health & Family Welfare
Mohali under Chairmanship of Mr. Hussan Lal Secretary Health cum Commissioner FDA.
Speaking on the occasion, he said that there are many poisonous chemicals in tobacco due to which
about 2200 people are being killed daily in India. The state health department was taking stringent
steps to curb this menace. He also said that all kinds of chewable tobacco and sale of loose
cigarettes have already been banned in Punjab and licence of a commercial establishment could be
cancelled in case of violation of Tobacco Control Act as per latest notification of Punjab Government.
He appealed to common people to help Government in this endeavour.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Karanjit Singh Director Health and Family welfare said that COTPA was
being effectively implemented and Monitored regularly at state level by Ms. Vini Mahajan, Principal
Secretary Health.Addressing the workshop, he said that the objectives of State Level Sensitisation
Workshop for members of district level Task Force was to sensitise the members of task force
regarding latest notifications for Tobacco/Nicotine Control, prior to a special campaign to act against
abuse of Tobacco and Nicotine in Hotels/Eateries etc and to detect any functional Hukkah Bar and
illegal sale of E-Cigarettes, Loose cigarettes and flavoured/scented chewable tobacco.
Dr. Rakesh Gupta State Programme Officer State Tobacco Control Cell elaborated that compliance
studies have been completed by School of Public Health PGI Chandigarh and compliance to Section 4
of COTPA has been found to be much more than the benchmark of 80% in all the districts. A formal
declaration of Punjab as Tobacco Smoke Free State is, however, awaited, said Dr. Gupta.
Good performing officials of Department of Health,Police,Civil Defence and Food and Drugs
Administration were honored on this occassions.
Special Campaign launched regarding
Tobacco/ Nicotine Control
Following good practices of other states in Tobacco Control can
be adopted :
• Tobacco free educational instts: letters may be written by DGSE/C-
FDA/DHS to all DEOs/heads of educational Instts regarding
implementation of section 4 & 6 of COTPA.They may also be given a
certificate in advance congratulating them for implementation of COTPA.
Signage outside all education instts declaring it as tobacco free.
• VAT has been increased to 65% on all tobacco products including Bidis in
Rajasthan. This is recognised world over as most effective step to
decrease prevalance
• All employees should be administered No tobacco pledge and at the time
of joining service all employees have to declare that they are not addicted
to Tobacco/any other drug
• Sarpanches can be motivated to declare their villages as Tobacco free
and put a Display board at entry point . Corporates can be roped in as
part of CSR
• Toll free helpline no 104 can used for COTPA violation reporting and
counselling of tobacco/nicotine addicts
• Violations of COTPA should be a part of MCR as is being
done by Police in Kerala and many other states and
Constables may be authorised by SSPs to challan COTPA
violators
• DAVP may derecognise advt agencies who get published
Tobacco products advts
• All FM/TV channels may be requested to refuse tobacco
advts
• Letters to all Tobacco Cos to remove advts boards and
tobacco whole sellers /retailors to observe Last day of
month as No Tobacco Day as is being done in
Delhi/Rajasthan
• Posters outside all vendors that: a) no sale of loose
cigarettes is allowed b)No tobacco sale below 18 yrs age c)
Last day of month as No Tobacco Day
• Administrative order to ensure no tobacco shops in 100
yards of their offices/buildings
Good Practices Contd…..
• Constables/STCC-DTCC/RBSK team members may
be notified for challaning
• Challaning i/c of public places for violation in their
jurisdiction
• Publicise provisions in FSSAI/Drugs act etc
• MMUs/Vaccine vans may be used for IEC activities
• Ask all visitors of all govt buildings to through
tobacco in their possession in a speciall box placed
outside
• Write letters to all DCs to grant permission to all
exhibitions/melas after undertaking that it will be
tobacco free
Good Practices Contd…..
Partnering together to fulfill the vision of tobacco free
Punjab