Total smoking ban still distant dream

Vendors selling tobacco products outside the outside hospitals and educational institutions


Tahir Mushtaq


JAMMU, Dec 1: The irony continues when people can be seen buying cigarettes from small outlets; carry them inside unchecked and smoke in prohibited areas, which include hospitals. Despite ban on smoking in public places, the violation is rampant in the city with many of the tea stalls and Dhabas near educational institutions providing space for smoking and students in groups could be seen blowing the cigarettes.


The ban imposed restricts sale of tobacco and products to the people below 18 years of age. It also prohibits sale within 100 yards of education institutions and urges shops to property displays warning against the hazards of smoking, but they are the main violators.


Surprisingly the special teams constituted by the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) to check the violators and impose fines, seem to have little affect on the people.


“Outside most of the hospitals and educational institutions people can easily get tobacco products and space to smoke. For what purpose the ban has been imposed”, said Sheenu, a college student.


With tobacco particles in the air, the passive smoking becomes inevitable but common man has little say in stopping people who spoke openly.


The nationwide ban on smoking in public places was imposed in October 2008 under the provision of Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition and 
Advertisements and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution)-Act 2003. Later in 2007, the state government asked local bodies to strictly monitor the ban and take action against defaulters.


“I have seen shops with big warning selling Chutkis to the children, it’s strange that authorities expect that they will follow the directions”, said Kiran Bhat, a higher secondary school teacher.


However when contacted Health Officer JMC Dr. Anwar Choudhary said, “We have been routinely taking action against the violators and slap on the spot fines. But cooperation of people is also needed”.


He said keeping in view the public interest; they had also decided to start an awareness campaign across the city to bar people from violating the ban. “Instead of forcing us to take steps that will make them shell out the money, people should cooperate with the officials”, Choudhary said. At present, the fine ranges from Rs 200 to Rs 500 but in some cases it can be higher.