Workshop for Chandigarh Police on “Tobacco Prohibition Act”
by “Burning Brain Society”

  “Burning Brain Society” today conducted a workshop for the Chandigarh Police on “The Cigarettes and other tobacco products (Prohibition of advertisement and regulation of trade & commerce, production, supply and distribution) Act 2003” and other related laws.

A presentation was also given by Mr. Hemant Goswami, chairperson of Burning Brain Society to the police officers. The presentation covered three different aspects of smoking, namely health, social & legal. Presentation on medical aspect was prepared by Dr. Rajesh Kashyap (Registrar, IGMC - Shimla) and on social & legal aspect was prepared by Mr. Satish Kumar Bhatti and Mr. Hemant Goswami.

The presentation was followed by an interactive discussion and brainstorming on the issue which witnessed the involvement of all senior officers of Chandigarh Police. During the presentation Mr. Goswami said that smoking is a big social menace in which over 50% of our male population is trapped. He further informed that in rural areas, this figure is as high as 70%.

“The mean age of smoking is around 11 years and by time a person reaches 18 he develops specific brand preferences,” revealed Mr. Goswami. He added that the initiative of the government to ban selling of tobacco products to anybody below 18 is laudable but at the same time it is of utmost importance that the enforcement agencies keep a strict vigil on any violation. No leniency on this ground can be afforded as this will leave the spirit of this provision and the act fall flat, which in return will directly affect the health of the next generation.

Hemant Goswami informed that anybody smoking in any public area shall be fined Rs. 200/- under Section 4 of the act while anybody advertising any tobacco product can be imprisoned from two to five years under section 22. Besides, anyone selling any tobacco product to any minor shall also make himself liable to a fine of Rs. 200 added Hemant. Further discussing about the definition of public place, Goswami revealed that as per the notification of 25^th February many open areas like Bus Stop, Stadium, etc. visited by public are also covered under the act; any extension of public building and area within the boundary wall of such office complexes shall also come within the revised definition of public places.

To a question about the revenue generated by tobacco products, Hemant informed that even the supreme court, in the famous Murli S. Deora Vs. Union of India case has taken note of annual loss to the tune of 13,500 Crore Rupees in term of productivity loss alone. Mr. Goswami added that this productivity loss is besides the loss of public money on account of health care cost to smokers and their families. He informed that even the Supreme Court has said that the loss incurred by smoking more than offsets all the benefits accruing in the form of revenue and employment generated by tobacco industry.

The workshop was attended by most of the senior police officials of Chandigarh Police including the I.G. Police Mr. Rajesh Kumar, S.P. Mr. Dadwal, SSP Mr. Gaurav Yadav, ASP Mr. Sanjay Jain. The efforts of Burning Brain Society were praised by all the senior officers.