Udupi: Police personnel belonging to 22 stations of Udupi district underwent training for the implementation of smoking ban in public places and other guidelines regarding tobacco control at a workshop organized in the Conference Hall at SP office on February 10. Cops were asked to get serious about implementation of Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA-2003) in the district.
Udupi District SP Annamalai K addressed the gathering and said that tobacco consumption leads to many diseases like cancer and heart problems. “The police have already incorporated COTPA violations in the monthly crime review following the instructions from the Union government. Police have taken a novel and crucial role as protectors of health in reducing tobacco consumption with this step,” he added.
Additional SP and Nodal officer for Tobacco control at the district level, Santhosh Kumar, said that the workshop was conducted to highlight the key sections under COTPA. “Cops at police station level have been strictly informed to ensure implementation of the smoking ban in public places and to prevent sales of tobacco around schools and to children under COTPA. You will see the related action on the ground soon,” he added.
An audio visual presentation on the training module used during the program motivated the participants to protect the society from the ill effects of tobacco. Police officials also took a pledge to carry on the tobacco control measures effectively.
Some of the main guidelines for the cops from the program were as follows: Protect non-smokers by ensuring no smoking in public places; protect innocent non-users from being influenced by illegal advertising and promotions; protect minors from selling or buying tobacco; prevent tobacco products from being sold near schools and prevent people from selling tobacco without statutory warnings.
Why Tobacco control?
Tobacco is one of the world’s leading causes of death and disability, killing more than 1 million people in India annually. As per the report released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as well as recent studies, one tobacco related death happens every eight seconds in the country! Karnataka presently has around two crore consumers, one third of who may die a premature death. Taking cognizance of this matter and in order to reduce consumption across the country, the state government has taken serious steps to implement COTPA.
Dr John Kennedy from IPH was present at the workshop and shared more details regarding the COTPA implementation. The workshop was organized in association with Institute of Public Health, Bangalore.