Universities, colleges asked to make campuses tobacco free

Punjab government today asked all educational institutions in the state to make their campuses tobacco free.
"Vice Chancellors of all the private and government universities of Punjab have been asked to take appropriate measures in declaring the citadels of learning as tobacco free," Punjab Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Vini Mahajan said in an official statement here.
Mahajan asked them to implement COTPA (Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act), 2003 firmly to make the educational institutions, university campuses and the affiliated colleges tobacco free.
She said Punjab was the first state in India to ban the sale of loose cigarettes to dissuade consumers from smoking.

A notification in this regard has been issued to enforce the ban in all districts of the state under the act.
Mahajan also said the tobacco control cell of the state had been aggressively pursuing the agenda to bring down tobacco consumption in Punjab and banning of loose cigarettes was a step in that direction.

She has especially asked the University authorities to keep a periodic check especially on the shops near the institutions besides checking the small markets within the premises selling tobacco despite complete prohibition.
She said that under Section 4 of COTPA, smoking in public places is prohibited and under Section 6 of COTPA, tobacco selling is not allowed within 100 yards of any educational institution.

Director General School Education has also been directed to send similar directions to district Education Officers to implement COTPA strictly in and around the educational institutes.