Cops urged to sensitize society on restricting consumption of tobacco products

Cops urged to sensitize society on restricting consumption of tobacco products

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, March 14, 2013 : Karnataka State Police organized a workshop on Cigarette and other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) at Police Guest House on March 14, Thursday.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Vishal Rao, Director, Cancer Prevention Project-Institute of Public Health, said that Section 4 of the  Karnataka State Cigarette and other Tobacco Products Act 2003 (COTPA)  prohibits smoking in public places which includes all places having access to public except roads. He also spoke on  Section 5 which prohibits display of advertisements at the point of sale of tobacco in shops; Section 6 which prohibits sale of tobacco to minors and near schools and colleges and Section 7 for the packaging.

 

 

He said that people must be aware of the message written on the cigarette packs and avoid its consumption as  it leads to cancer and other diseases.

Dr Rao said that the State cannot ban the manufacturing of tobacco as it would create problems for tobacco  growing farmers. The Government, he said was trying to persuade the tobacco farmers to opt for cultivation of other products.

 Additional DGP (Crime) A M Prasad said that recently police have incorporated COTPA violations in the monthly crime review following the instructions from the Union Government.

He said that as per the survey, in the year 2012-2013, Karnataka has registered a total of 252 cases of violation of the Act and collected a fine of Rs 31,700.  Gulbarga tops the tally  in collecting the fine amount of Rs 23,000. The police officials do not have fixed target to register the cases and collect the fine amount, but must work towards restricting people from consuming tobacco products.

 Some of the districts coming under  Western Range have done good work in reducing tobacco consumption. He further urged the officials who participated in the workshop to  visit schools and colleges and enlighten students on the ill-effects of tobacco.

 IGP Western Range Prathap Reddy, City Police Commissioner Manish Karbhikar, SP Abhishek Goyal, Dr Riyaz and others were present.