Health officials in the Indian city of Kanpur announced on Sunday during celebration of World Anti-Tobacco Day that the city is now tobacco-free.
According to Dr. RP Yadav, Kanpur's chief medical officer, the city will strictly implement the guidelines stated in the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) of 2003, particularly sections 4, 5 and 6. The order will effectively prohibit the chewing and smoking of tobacco within city limits. Kanpur, India's 10th-largest city, is in the state of Uttar Pradesh in northeast India.
Yadav explained that section 4 of the COTPA pertains to the restriction of smoking at public places, while section 5 deals with the restrictions on the promotion, sponsorship and advertisement of products containing tobacco. Section 6 restricts the sale of tobacco-based products to minors.
The chief medical officer said that the residents of Kanpur city have agreed to follow these three sections of the COTPA, according to a survey conducted by college doctors in the city.
The prohibition on smoking in public areas covers hospitals, movie theaters, auditoriums, amusement centers, parks, markets, shopping malls, libraries, hotels, restaurants, pubs, bars, public transport, educational institutions and private and government offices around the city.
Places exempt from the restrictions include designated smoking zones in restaurants, hotels, airports and other open areas.
"The act has a provision to impose a fine of Rs 200 [about $3.14] on a person found smoking at public places," Yadav said. "Selling a cigarette packet without caution mentioned in its label can lead to a lifetime ban."
"Violation of the act can invite two-year imprisonment and fine of Rs 5,000 [$79] while second violation may result in five-year imprisonment and fine of Rs 10,000 [$157]."
The announcement of the order was witnessed by several public health officials, including medical and health minister Ahmad Hasan, principal health secretary Arvind Kumar, special health secretary Arindam Bhattacharya, health director general Dr. Vijay Laxmi and National Health Mission director Dr. Baljit Arora.
Members of the district administration were also present at the event such Roshan Jacob, the district magistrate, and Avinash Singh, the additional district magistrate for Kanpur.
The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act of 2003 was created in part to curb the increasing risk of severe morbidity caused by respiratory and other infections in people exposed to secondhand smoke.
Nodal officer Dr. AK Srivastava of India's Tobacco Control Cell said that infants and children are also susceptible to the adverse effects of indirect exposure to secondhand smoke. He said that this can significantly affect their immune system.
Photo: Isengardt | Flickr
