In a high level State Level Coordination Committee SLCC meeting Ms. Vini Mahajan, Principal Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab has decided that a special Enforcement drives would be conducted throughout the state to remove Tobacco Vendors near Educational Institutions and enforce Anti-tobacco law with in Bus Stands. Commissioner FDA cum Secretary Health Punjab Mr. Hussan Lal and Dr H.S. Bali, Director Health and Family Welfare and representatives of various stakeholder Departments, Deputy Commissioners and various NGOs were present.
Addressing the meeting Ms. Vini Mahajan said that a coordinated effort from all departments was the essence of controlling the menace of tobacco and nicotine. She said it is the responsibility of every stakeholder department and civil society to create awareness about hazards of tobacco and implement the anti-tobacco/nicotine laws effectively. She informed that a meeting was held with Director General of Police regarding the issues related to tobacco control. DGP assured the full cooperation from the police department and also assured to conduct enforcement drives regularly.
Commissioner FDA cum Secretary Health Punjab Mr. Hussan Lal reiterated that sale of loose cigarettes/tobacco, chewable tobacco products & E-Cigarettes have already been completely banned in Punjab. Guidelines have been finalized for action against violation of ban on flavored/scented tobacco under Food safety and Standards Act, 2006 in a recently held meeting. E Cigarettes cases are going on in Hoshiarpur, Sangrur, Mansa, Ludhiana and SAS Nagar. The SAS Nagar court decided the case and has convicted the accused with 3 years imprisonment and one lakh as fine.
State Program Officer, National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), Dr Rakesh K Gupta highlighted various legislations, notifications, regulations dealing with tobacco and nicotine. He also shared the steps initiated by government of Punjab to control tobacco/nicotine menace. He enumerated the role of various departments and the steps taken by them so far.
Mr. Naveen Saini, AIG, Police Department assured that Police department will ensure strict implementation of Tobacco/Nicotine control laws and regular monitoring in MCR meetings. He said that nodal officers have been appointed at district level. As suggested by DGP special enforcement drives will be led by Police department to remove tobacco shops within 100 yards of educational Institutions in August 16 and removal of violations in Bus Stands/stops in the month of September 16
Representative from the education department told that that an anti-tobacco SMS alerts through EDUSAT was sent to all the schools to raise awareness regarding tobacco. It was discussed that all the educational institutes should declare themselves as tobacco free institutes. District Education Officers will ensure the mapping of Tobacco Vendors through Head Masters/Principals with help of officials of Local Government in first week of August and Enforcement drive in rest of the month. Dr Sonu Goel from School of public health, PGIMER will share the latest guidelines regarding the same.Representatives from NGOs Dr S.P.Surila SNEHA and Ms Opinderpreet GSA made some suggestions for better implementation of Anti-Tobacco/Nicotine Laws.