The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Tobacco vendors still pollute college neighbourhoods

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Friday, Jun 24, 2011
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Tobacco vendors still pollute college neighbourhoods

K.C. Deepika

Act bans sale of tobacco products near colleges

THE REASON:The pilot project is focussing on

BANGALORE: A team, directed by the High Court to survey the presence of tobacco vendors near Pre-University colleges, has found at least 34 of them violating Section 6 of the Control of Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003.

This Act mandates that cigarettes or tobacco products should not be sold to those less than 18 years of age or in an area within a radius of 100 yards (91.44 metres) of any educational institution. Any violation of the provisions of the section is punishable under Section 24 of the COTPA, with a fine of up to Rs. 200.

The team is conducting the survey following a High Court directive in response to a petition which sought strict implementation of the Act.

Writ petition

The Cancer Patients Aid Association, taking cognisance of children taking to tobacco consumption, filed a writ petition in the Karnataka High Court in 2009 seeking strict implementation of the Act. Following this, the Deputy Director of the Pre-university (PU) Department and the petitioner's counsel from the Lawyers' Collective started the inspection of educational institutions from April 9, so far covering 180 PU colleges in north and south Bangalore.

The team found 155 colleges had displayed boards warning vendors to stay 100 yards away from their premises. Twenty-five PU colleges which had not displayed boards have been asked by the PU Department to comply immediately. The team came across sale of tobacco products within 100 yards of 34 PU colleges.

As the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is one of the stakeholders in the implementation of the Act, a list of colleges violating the rules will be handed over to it for suitable action. A list of 18 colleges has already been sent to the BBMP.

Experimenting

Speaking on the pilot project that will cover some 500 PU colleges in the city, Dolly Kalita, Legal Aid Officer, Lawyers' Collective, said: “It is when students are fresh out of school that they start experimenting with tobacco. That is why we started with PU colleges.” Sharing the difficulties in the implementation of the Act, she said: “Shops can have their licences cancelled or they can be evicted. But hawkers are a problem as they are on the move. The sale of loose cigarettes is also an issue as buyers don't see the pictorial warning on the packets.”

Ramachandra Murthy, Deputy Commissioner (Health), BBMP, claimed the civic authority had evicted all the vendors from within 100 yards of educational institutions. “If [anyone] has come across any cases, they can contact us and we will take action,” he said.

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