Officials directed to cancel licenses of merchants repeatedly violating COTPA pointers in Karnatakas Chamarajanagar

Deputy Commissioner of Chamarajanagar Shilpa Nag has instructed the officers to cancel the licenses of merchants, who repeatedly violate the provisions of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA).

Presiding over the Chamarajanagar district Coordination Committee assembly as a part of the National Tobacco Control Programme on the Deputy Commissioner’s workplace on Saturday, Ms. Nag mentioned that the commerce licenses of tobacco sellers discovered to be repeatedly violating the COTPA legal guidelines throughout inspections ought to be cancelled with none leniency.

She requested officers tasked with the implementation of the National Tobacco Control programme to accentuate enforcement actions, significantly in city areas.

With COTPA provisions prohibiting sale of beedis, cigarettes, and different tobacco merchandise inside 100 metres of academic establishments, Ms. Nag mentioned such areas ought to be declared as tobacco-free zones. “100% compliance ought to be ensured throughout the district,” she mentioned, earlier than directing the officers to impose the best doable penalty in circumstances the place violations happen close to academic establishments.

In areas with a excessive density of tobacco addicts, Ms. Nag advised that consciousness programmes be organised, focussing on the dangerous results of tobacco consumption on the well being of a person and their households. She sought progress reviews on the particular programmes within the regard throughout the subsequent assembly.

Tobacco-free villages

With the district setting a goal of declaring 68 villages as tobacco-free ones, Ms. Nag emphasised the necessity to strictly implement the rules and requirements with the cooperation of all departments concerned.

She mentioned that acceptable instructions ought to be given to the panchayat improvement officers in coordination with the Health Department.

Meanwhile, Chamarajanagar district Legal Services Authority Member Secretary and senior civil decide Eshwara, who additionally spoke on the assembly, mentioned tobacco use and smoking is prohibited in public locations, and solely designated and authorised zones ought to be used for such functions.

He additionally favoured in depth discussions in conferences concerning enforcement of legal guidelines associated to tobacco management and substance abuse.

A number of officers, together with Chamarajanagar district Health and Family Welfare Officer S. Chidambara, Chamarajanagar District Surveillance Officer Sundaresh, and others had been current on the assembly.