Media Release

Udupi, Feb 26: After Gadag, Kolar and Chikmagalur districts, it is the turn of Udupi district to rise to the tobacco control challenge. Taking cue from the other three districts attaining the tobacco compliance status, Udupi on Thursday February 26 set the stage for itself to surge ahead in this regard. In a crucial meeting held on Thursday, the departments concerned undertook a decision to strictly implement the tobacco control regulations under the COTPA (Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act), 2003.

Addressing the meeting of stakeholders at the SP office in the district, the SP K Annamalai, charted out the blueprint to effectively implement provisions under the COTPA, 2003. With active participation from the district administration, the senior cop set a deadline of 30 days by which they wish to attain the tobacco compliance status. "The police department will put a strong foot forward in implementing tobacco control measures in association with other departments," he added.

Related discussions with the department heads concerned were also held on the occasion and responsibilities of each stakeholder were explained. The department heads were explained about their role in implementation and system of reporting on a daily basis to district police headquarters.

Dr John Kennedy of the Tobacco Control Project at the Institute of Public Health, which is coordinating with the state government in implementing the COTPA, addressed the gathering. He explained the burden of tobacco and the need for effective implementation of the COTPA provisions. He asked all officers to take up this initiative as a social obligation to serve the society.

Addressing the meeting SP K Annamalai gave following instructions to the participants:

- Ensuring display of boards stating ban of tobacco products sale in the 100 yards jurisdiction of education institutions and related display of boards explaining the same. One week time has been given to all the institutions through education officers who were present at the meet if any one fails will face strict action from police department of the concerned jurisdiction.

- Assuring ban of smoking in public places including bus stand, parks, hotel and restaurants, bakery, shops, pan shops, cinema theatres, private and government office premises. Also, to see into it that related warning boards are installed in these places within 7 days.

- Ensuring action if concerned individual or authorities fail to display warning boards pertaining to tobacco control.

- Ensuring clearing of tobacco product advertisements in public places and at the point of sales.

- Kick-starting of a 30-day special drive starting from March first week to ensure proper implementation of COTPA provisions in every police station limits headed by CPI, PI or sub-inspectors.

- All the department authorities have also been given instructions to hold awareness programmes at all panchayat and village level to speed up the tobacco control measures. All police officials have been instructed not to tone down the above directions but work hard to ensure the district attaining the tobacco compliance status with the set deadline.

- A directive has also been given to all police stations to send daily reports on the COTPA implementation and related cases registered to the office of district SP.

Officers from health, education, municipality, fisheries, transport, information, representatives from ZP, private hospitals' representatives, food and civil supply department officers participated and assured support and display of boards in their office premises within the deadline fixed.