Early Times Report
REASI, Dec 3: In order to finalize the Action Plan for under taking IEC activities under Cigarette and other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003 in Reasi district, a meeting of the members of District Level Committee on Tobacco Control was held under the chairmanship of District Development Commissioner, Reasi, Mrs. Nirmal Sharma here today.
Pricnipal, Degree College Reasi, Prof. Ajeet Angral, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Desh Raj, Chief Education Officer, Tarsem Lal, Assistant Controller Drug, Munish Gupta, Assistant Controller Food, Madan Magotra , District Coordinator Voluntary Health Association of India, Altaf Dar representatives of NGOs attended the meeting.
In the meeting, threadbare discussions were held on the effective implementation of cigarette and other Tobacco Products Act. It was decided in the meeting that block level special squads including SHO, Naib Tehsildar, Block Medical Officer, Food Safety Officer would conduct regular checks of public places public and private offices, work places, hotels, educational institutions and other places visited by general public to make entire district a smoke free zone.
Apart from monitoring and compounding of any violation, it will be the duty of the squad members to make the person (found violating the Act) aware about the provisions and rules of COTPA-2003. A quarterly review meeting for progress of evaluation and further planning to strengthen tobacco control initiatives in the district would be held at district headquarters at the end of second week of March, June, September and December.
It was apprised that under Section 4 of the COTPA, a fine of Rs. 6080 has been imposed upon 66 defaulters for smoking at public places in Reasi district during last year. Addressing the meeting, the DDC stressed for creating greater awareness about the Act among general masses for its successful implementation adding that sincere and collective efforts of different enforcement agencies would go a long way in making the district smoke free. |
