Majri (Kharar), September 16:- A one-day workshop on Tobacco Control was held at Primary Health Center Boothgarh under the leadership of Senior Medical Officer Dr. Alkjot Kaur, in which Block Extension Educators, Community Health Officers and Health Supervisors participated.
This workshop, organized by the Health Department in collaboration with Generation Savior Association, was addressed by Advocate Gurpreet Singh and Advocate Gagan, who explained all the technical and legal aspects of the Tobacco Control Act in detail.
He said that the Government of India had made the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Control Act, 2003 (COTPA) in 2003, which aims to control the production, trade and use of tobacco products in India.
Under this law, the use of tobacco products in public places is prohibited. Apart from this, there is also a ban on advertising of tobacco products. Tobacco products cannot be sold to minors and there is a ban on the sale of tobacco products within 100 yards of educational institutions.
He clarified that there is no ban on the sale and use of tobacco products in the country, but all this should be done within the ambit of the COTPA Act. If a person violates this law, then there is also a provision of fine and punishment for him.
He said that during the investigation, it is seen that along with selling food and drinks, tobacco products are sold, which is a violation of the COTPA Act. In some places, imported cigarettes, flavored tobacco products and open cigarettes are sold without warning, which is a violation of the law.
He said that the joint team of the Health Department and other departments, while continuously issuing challans and fines, also makes people aware about the harms of tobacco use and the anti-tobacco law. The purpose of the investigation is not to harass shopkeepers but to tell them that tobacco products should be sold in compliance with the COTPA law.