DHO and Cops Crack Down on Shops Selling Tobacco Near Educational Institutions

DHO and Cops Crack Down on Shops Selling Tobacco Near Educational Institutions

District Health and Family Welfare Centre Officials, along with City Traffic and Law Cops Cracked Down on Shops Selling Tobacco Near Educational Institutions

Mangaluru: Officials of “Tobacco Control Cell” which is part of District Health and Family Welfare Centre cracked down on shops selling banned tobacco products within 100 metres of educational institutions and booked several shopkeepers, and slapped hefty fine, ranging from Rs 300-Rs 1000 depending on their violations. Nearly 25-30 shops visited by the officials at Light house hill near St Aloysius college, Hampankatta area near Milagres school/college, and few other parts of the city where educational institutions are close by.

This Special Drive was conducted on Tobacco Control Law Enforcement in Mangaluru city on 3rd August 2017. Special squad representing officers from the health department, food safety and police (both traffic and law and order) were involved in the drive. The retail shops were inspected for sale of tobacco products and violations were identified and penalty was imposed against errant shop keepers. A total penalty of Rupees 3900/- was imposed during the drive. Apart from this, food safety officer also issued notices to those shops selling food items without a valid license. Raju, Ms Jyothi, Dr Preetha C Shekar, Ms Shruthi, Jagannath were part of the enforcement drive along with the crew of the Police department.

The offenders were booked under various sections of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003. Police sources said that though shops were often checked and actions taken, many continued to flout rules. They also said that in the past number of cases were booked on these shopkeepers, but they don’t give up their practises. Other than shops selling illegal cigarette products without health warning printed on the wrapper, other shops were selling such items within the radius of 100 metres from schools. They said that many minors, even those wearing school uniforms, were freely able to purchase cigarettes and other tobacco products from the shops.

As per the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition on Advertising and Regulating Trade, Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act 2003, selling cigarettes and tobacco products to persons below 18 years of age, and within 100 yards of educational institutions is prohibited. But even after many warnings and fined imposed on the shops violating the rules, many still take the risk and get caught and made to pay the hefty fine again. An owner of a snack and juice shop on LHH road. opposite to St Aloysius College was trying to be innocent that he never sells tobacco products and also doesn’t encourage smoking among students- but a bunch of empty cigarette packs, empty pan parag/ghutka sachets, cigarette butts etc were seen around his shop (see pics in the report)

Even though the government had banned the sale of gutkha and pan masala years ago, but the measure was bogged down in litigation. Even as enforcement agencies have been cracking down on hubs in the city, the sale is continuing without any interruption. Here, there, everywhere-it shows that the banned tobacco products are available across the counter in petty shops all over the City. Gutkha sachets can be bought like candy from shops just outside the educational institutions, police stations, RTO and campuses of government offices. Street vendors and petty shops proudly display the array of sachets selling banned tobacco products- and what has the law enforcement and govt done- NOTHING?

A shopkeeper in Hampankatta area said, “There is a huge demand for these Pan Parag, Ghutka products because of the increase in migrant labourers. These people can’t live for a day if they don’t get their stuff- so we have to keep such products in stock. I have been warned and made to pay fine many times, but I can’t run my shop without selling tobacco products. Multiple raids have not deterred traders around from stocking such banned tobacco products “. A senior police officer on condition of anonymity said in most cases, manufacturers and stockists were let off with a fine and warning. The banned products are bought by the sellers locally or transported from other States.

Dr Preetha C Shekar- District Consultant at District Health and Family Welfare Centre speaking to Team Mangalorean said, ” Crack down on such shops selling illegal tobacco products and also tobacco near educational institutions will not stop just today, but we will do surprise checks on these shops- and if they are found violating the rules again, we will take strict action and impose hefty fines on them. We have made progress in reducing tobacco use among youth; however, far too many young people are still using tobacco. Regular crack down on shops selling tobacco products will control the smoking habits of youth. We also need the support of the public in stopping the usage of tobacco by youth, and also adults”.