Grim situation, State fails to apply law prohibiting public smoking

Subhra Prasanta Das, SNS, Kolkata, 31 October 2014: As the central government mulls slapping a fine of Rs 20,000 for public smoking and to make public smoking a cognizable offence, the enforcement of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) remains a far cry in the city. As per the reports of Tobacco Control Foundation of India, the country has the highest rate of oral cancer in the world with 90% of the patients being tobacco chewers.

It also reports that over 60% of those suffering from heart disease below the age of 40 years are smokers, around half of all cancers in men in India are tobacco related. The report also says that around 9, 00,000 deaths per year are somehow related to tobacco consumption. The Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) reports that 62.4 per cent of total population are exposed to tobacco smoke at home, 49.1 per cent at workplace and 29.8 per cent at any public place.

“There are various campaigns in the state to create awareness about the harmful effects of smoking but we need to do more.

“Currents endeavors are not adequate to create wide-spread awareness,” said Mr Malay Kumar Dey, Principal Secretary, Deptartment of Health & Family Welfare, Government of West Bengal.

Echoing his views, Mrs Chandrima Bhattacharya, Minister of Law, Judicial Affairs and Health said that there are awareness programmes and campaigns by the state to create awareness and curb public smoking.

Despite the government having banned public smoking six years ago, there are several violations of COTP Act across the country.

People smoking in public is an utterly common sight with hardly any fine slapped on the smokers. Public spaces like bus stops, restaurants, railway stations bear no signage prohibiting smoking. Such signages are required to bear the name of a designated officer to whom a complaint can be lodged in case of violation of the law.

Dr Jaydip Biswas, Director, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute said that since passive smokers are not accustomed to smoking, they become the worst sufferers. He also said that the cases of lung cancer is increasing rapidly in the city, apart from pollution, smoking is one of the main factors.

"There is a need to take stringent measures. Hefty fine should be imposed so as to deter people from smoking in public. The COTP act should be enforced properly," said Ms Sutapa Biswas, Executive Director, Cancer Foundation of India.

She, further, suggested that state government can take initiative and make their premises like government hospitals, colleges, offices absolutely smoking-free by displaying the signage banning smoking.

Dr Jaydip Biswas and Ms Sutapa Biswas both stressed on the need to enforce the existing act with people themselves taking initiative.