Mangaluru (TOI): Puffing away in public spaces could henceforth invite a fine of Rs 1,000 or a jail-term of one year under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003.
It is the role and responsibility of all to ensure the health of others in society and the law will come down heavily on those who violate provisions of the Act, said Kumara, additional deputy commissioner.
Inaugurating a workshop on the Act organized by department of health and family welfare here, Kumara said India is the second largest tobacco producing nation in the world. Nearly 30% of the world's tobacco consumers are Indians.
It is not enough to warn people about perils of tobacco use only through advertisements, he averred. He added that instead the focus must be on informing people about the ill-effects its consumption has on individuals in general and society in particular.Stressing on the need to create this awareness at every village level, Kumara said the governments too can help reduce consumption of tobacco by increasing higher percentage of tax on it. Rahul Kumar, assistant superintendent of police, Bantwal sub-division said Dakshina Kannada district police has booked 1,657 people under COTPA in Bantwal and Puttur sub-divisions up to August 15 in this year and realized a fine of Rs 2.92 lakh from them.
