[Intl-tobacco] India" Govt gets serious about smoking ban]

[Robert Weissman]

Govt gets serious about smoking ban
by TIMES NEWS NETWORK 
Source: The Times of India, 2001-11-22NEW DELHI: 

In a desperate
attempt to enforce the smoking ban, the government has constituted
special teams to conduct raids at public places from next week.

Health minister A K Walia said the anti-smoking law would be
implemented with a heavy hand from next week. The government already
has a provision for imposing a fine of Rs 500 for smoking in
enclosed public places and on public transport. Repeated offence
could lead to a fine of up to Rs 1,000 or three months’
imprisonment.

The ban, however, has not been effective because of tardy
enforcement. In May 1997, Delhi became the first state in the
country to ban smoking in public places. In four years only 380
people have been penalised.

‘‘Raiding teams have not been doing their job properly. If ever
somebody is caught, he can get away by paying Rs 100. The efficacy
of the law is seriously under doubt,’’ said an official.

Walia said following the recent Supreme Court order imposing a
nationwide ban on smoking in public places, the government had taken
measures to improve enforcement. ‘‘We have increased the number of
teams from one to nine. Now raids will be conducted every day
instead of once a week,’’ he said.

According to Walia, teams will visit all enclosed public places like
hospitals, schools, bus and railway stations, restaurants, hotels,
cinema halls and public transport to penalise people who are found
smoking.

The government has constituted special teams in all nine revenue
districts. These teams will be headed by chief medical officers who
will be empowered to penalise defaulters. Walia said similar teams
were being created at the district police level. Each raiding team
will comprise three health officials and two policemen. The raiding
teams will also be authorised to issue challans to people violating
the law.

Early this year, the government tried to add teeth to the
anti-smoking law by prohibiting the sale of cigarettes to children
below 18 years of age and within 100 metres of an educational
institution.

Walia said in the past two months, the health department had taken
action against 187 people for storing or selling tobacco products
near educational institutions. Raiding teams sealed five shops for
violating the anti-smoking law.

About 40 shopkeepers were caught selling tobacco products to
children below the age of 18 years. Besides, 211 persons were
arrested for smoking in public places and about 58 cases were
pending in courts, Walia said.