NONGSTOIN:
Any person found smoking in public places or selling tobacco within 100 yards of schools and colleges in West Khasi Hills will be subjected to strict action and penalty.
“Our role is necessary to protect children of Meghalaya, at least the next generation can have a better life without any addictions,” said Eugene Kharmawlong, medical health officer of Civil Hospital, Nongstoin, addressing a workshop as a part of the National Tobacco Control Programme initiative here, on July 8.
He further added that under Section 77 of the Juvenile Justice Act, the punishment and penalty for such crimes is severe. “Whoever gives child any kind of intoxicants, including drugs, tobacco products or psychotropic substances, except on the order of a duly qualified medical practitioner, the person shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and liable to a fine which may extend up to one lakh rupees,” he said.
Stating that 25 lakh (47 per cent) people use tobacco products in some or other form in Meghalaya, he said with the enforcement of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) police can save more lives than doctors. Kharmawlong also said that 40 per cent of all types of cancers and 90 per cent of oral and lung cancers are attributable only to tobacco use.
Organised by the department of health in collaboration with the Sambandh Health Foundation, the workshop will impart training to the police officers of West Khasi Hills district on COTPA.
Informing that the training will be extremely helpful for effective implementation of COTPA, Kharmawlong said that instructions have been given to all officers in charge (OCs) to fine violators of COTPA, and as per the Section 6(b) of COTPA, there should be no sale of tobacco within 100 yards (300 feet) of any educational institutions.
He also added that he will personally review the situation in monthly meetings so that there is strict enforcement.
The Superintendent of Police further directed all police stations to install no smoking signages immediately. Section 4 of COTPA prohibits smoking in public places. The Departments of Health and Education is also running the Tobacco-Free Educational Institution (ToFEI) programme in all districts.