Starting today, smokers to be challaned like traffic violators
Oct 02, 2008: The Indian Express
New Delhi, October 1 With effect from today, people caught smoking in public will be challaned the same way as traffic norms violators are.
The Union Health Ministry has sent challan booklets to all the states and asked the authorities to send notices on the violators’ addresses, if they are not able to pay the fine on the spot.
“The fine, which is up to Rs 200, will be charged the on the spot. However, if the violator shows inability to pay the challan money then, then they would be sent a notice at home specifying that they were caught smoking at a public place,¶ said a senior official in the ministry.
“The notified officers will check the I-card of the person to make sure that the notice is delivered at the correct address,¶ added the official.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry has directed the states to open accounts where the money gathered from fine collection will be credited. However, it is left on the states how to make use of that money.
According to ministry officials, the states can create a separate account, as has been done by the Gujarat Government under the Department of Health, where the fine collected by various agencies/officers would be deposited. “This will enable the Department of Health to use the fund for tobacco-control activities,¶ added the official.
The other suggestion given to the states is that the fines collected by various agencies may be deposited in a miscellaneous account of the Department of Health. In case the states have a separate account for National Tobacco Control Programme in the Health Society, the money may be deposited in that account too.
The implementing Government agencies/ department may also deposit the fine in a miscellaneous account or any other account where the fines collected by other departments like the railways are deposited.
In case the implementing agency in a non governmental/ private body, then the amount collected has to be deposited in the account identified by the State Government.
If the owner, proprietor, manager or supervisor, or in-charge of affairs of the public place fails to act on the report of such violations, he shall be fined the same amount as the number of individual offences. “State health secretaries, district collectors, education secretaries have been sent the final reminder,¶ the health official noted.
FIGURE IT OUT
• There are more than 1 billion smokers across the world. In India, 57 per cent of males and 11 per cent of females use tobacco in some form.
• Second-hand smoking causes lung disease, cancer, heart disease, low birth weight and increased infant death.
• More than 5 million people die due to tobacco consumption each year — more than AIDS, Tuberculosis and malaria combined. In India, 8 to 9 lakh Indians die due to tobacco-related diseases.
• More than 2,200 Indians die everyday due to tobacco use.
• Smoking amounts for 10 per cent of the 10 million deaths per year from all causes. 70 per cent of smoking deaths are in middle age (30-69 years). In India, 36.9 per cent children start smoking before the age of 10.
• Cigarette smoking among youth is high in central, southern and northeastern regions.
• Second-hand smoke in public places is as high as 40.3 per cent
