Kerala Police tightens the noose on public smokers

Indicating and reinforcing their strong commitment for public health, the 56,000-plus Kerala Police force has tightened the noose on public smokers. 

Figures of police action against public smoking for this July-September quarter show over 85 per cent jump as compared to the same period last year. As many as 47,282 persons were fined during the quarter for violating the no-public smoking provision of the Indian tobacco control law COTPA, 2003.

This is a record-high number ever since Kerala Police started an online system of COTPA violations reporting in October 2012.

Of the total 20 police districts, 17 districts have recorded action against public smokers in September 2015, as per the latest figures in the official police website. For the sake of administrative convenience, 14 revenue districts of the state have been divided into 20 police districts.

The impressive performance showcased during the quarter also comes from doubling and tripling of efforts by six district police teams as compared to July-September 2014. These include, Thiruvananthapuram City; Pathanamthitta; Ernakulam City; Thrissur City; Palakkad and Malappuram.

In Malappuram, for instance, the number of persons fined has increased from 52 during last July-September quarter to 5,726 in the same period this year. Palakkad has witnessed an over nine-fold increase, from 503 to 4,619.

The State Police Chief Shri TP Senkumar IPS said, “Kerala Police takes its commitment of safeguarding the health of our people very seriously.  We realise the dangerous impact of second-hand smoke and do not want our non-smoking population to suffer silently in public places. Action against COTPA violations are reviewed every month in the crime review meetings.” The Clean Campus, Safe Campus programme launched by the Government on 30 May 2014 has strengthened COTPA implementation and tobacco control, Shri Senkumar added.

In the interest of non-smokers, Section 4 of COTPA prohibits smoking in public places including bus stands, cinema halls, restaurants, hotels, pubs, and bars. It also mandates setting up of 60 x 30 cm signages in white, black and red colours. Violations including public smoking and absence of requisite signages can be fined up to Rs 200 on the spot.

As per figures of the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2009-10 of the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and the World Health Organisation, 30 per cent of men and 8.5 per cent of women are exposed to second-hand smoke in public places. 

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Tobacco litter a potential threat

Tobacco use has not only been inducing cancer but is also leaving the environment polluted, spreading diseases and possibly contaminating food, says a body of oncologists in Kolkata. 

Cigarette and bidi butts, along with chewing tobacco spits littered on streets, should be classified as toxic wastes, they have claimed, pointing to a recent application filed by a doctors' organization with the National Green Tribunal. The possibility of tobacco litter was sharper in Kolkata since the city has more smokers that most other metros, according to Bengal Oncology Foundation. 

Responding to an application filed by Mumbai-based NGO Doctors for You, the NGT has directed the Union ministries of environment and health and the Central Pollution Control Board to file their response on the harm caused by cigarette, bidi butts and chewing tobacco to the environment. 

"Cigarette butts consist of carcinogens, nicotine and toxic metals such as cadmium, arsenic and lead in a highly concentrated form. All these pose high risk to public health. Action must be taken at the earliest to contain such hazardous litter, said Subir Ganguly, Vice President, Bengal Oncology. 

He added that the possibility of cigarette butts transmitting diseases couldn't be ruled out. "In Kolkata, it is not uncommon for people, even children, to smoke cigarette or bidi ends picked up from the road. Apart from the metals that the ends contain, they could also transmit diseases. Tobacco spits, on the other hand, are even more infectious since they have saliva which helps to transmit diseases," explained Ganguly. 

Research has shown that about 25%-50% of litter accumulated from the streets comprises tobacco residues. A 100 billion non-biodegradable butts are released in the environment every year. 

The possibility of tobacco contamination was a real one, said oncologist Gautam Mukhopadhyay, Secretary of Bengal Oncology. 

"Food sold on the streets is vulnerable since they remain uncovered. 

Utensils used by hawkers are often washed and stored very close to garbage dumps full of tobacco wastes," he added. 

Doctors for You cited the example of the Howrah Bridge, whose pillars are corroding due to acids in tobacco spit. "We need to build awareness on the of littering. Unless habits change, it will be difficult to curb tobacco litter," said Kalyan Rudra, Chairman of the State Pollution Control Board. 

Even though smoking in and around hospitals, government offices and educational institutions is prohibited, the rule is routinely flouted in Kolkata. 

Most hospital staircases and corridors in the city are heavily smeared with tobacco spits and peppered with cigarette ends. "Nothing could be more unhealthy than this since patients are more susceptible to infections. Unless smoking in public was banned, it would be difficult to control tobacco litter, felt Ganguly.

Source: Times of India

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Seek adventure in sports and higher career goals, not tobacco: Manisha Koirala

Children should find adventure in sports and higher career goals and not be drawn to tobacco use for the temporary excitement it provides, popular pan-India actress Ms Manisha Koirala said.

In a personal message addressed to “dear people of Kerala” in connection with Children’s Day, Ms Koirala who has successfully battled cancer, urged children to keep away from dangerous vices such as tobacco use.

The ‘Dil Se’ actress also wished “all children a very healthy and joyous life.”

Ms Koirala, a Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), hailed the Tobacco Free Kerala campaign as a model worthy of emulation by the rest of the country.

“I take this opportunity to congratulate the Kerala Government headed by the Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Oommen Chandy for initiating this campaign for promoting healthy lifestyles,” she wrote.

Significantly, it was on Children’s Day last year that Kerala was declared the first state in India to become tobacco advertisement-free at the points of sale. This achievement driven by the Health and Police Departments has brought Kerala fame both nationally and internationally.

Ms Koirala has portrayed roles of chain-smoking characters. Numerous scientific studies have shown that smoking, exposure to second-hand smoke and tobacco use causes cancer.

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