Mohammad Tahir
SRINAGAR: The tall claims of concerned departments goes down the drain as ban on smoking in public places has not been implemented as expected, dozens of departments especially health institutions, where authorities have let smokers escape Scott free.
Sources said that earlier ban was implemented as part of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (prohibition of advertisements and regulation of trade and commerce, production, supply and distribution) Act 2003 that was passed by Parliament in April 2003.
Soon after the act was passed state government vides order no (466/HME of 2008) has prohibited smoking in public places, direct or indirect advertising of cigarettes or other tobacco products and their sale to persons below age of 18 years.
One of shopkeeper close to the territory hospital in Srinagar said, there is no one who would have restricted smokers while entering the main gate, for same purpose the government had empowered food inspectors of Drug and Food Control department so that they can take action against offenders in their respective area of jurisdiction.
According to him they believes that the Act says the smoking has been prohibited in restaurants, shopping malls, public/private work places, hotels, hospitals, canteen, coffee house, airport lounge and parks, but today we witness that there is no space or department left out where smoking is not taking place.
We cannot stop people from smoking but it creates problems for others when it is smoked inside institution, but making the ban successful, we need the support of people, said health official while sharing his experience.
Bashir Ahmad an attendant at SKIMS said that “cigarette sellers are supposed to carry a sign board and the same board should carry a message that smoking is injurious to health and it can’t be sold to children up to 18 years of age, and people should avoid smoking in hospitals or at any other public places, be it a hospital, educational institution or any other institution or office,”.
“Once the order on prohibition of smoking was issued, people in general had welcomed the step, but the years passed now and no officials is bothered to restrict violators as they were seen violating the orders themselves,” said sources.
People in general believe that ban on smoking in public places is a dire need as 70% of cancer cases are caused by smoking and that too among youth who have not been counseled or guided by their parents or people concerned in rural as well as urban areas of Kashmir valley.