New Delhi, The Delhi Government has requested Delhi Police to
enforce the ban on sale, manufacturing and storage of all forms of chewing
tobacco, whether in single pack or twin packs i.e. tobacco and pan masala sold
in separate packs but intended to be consumed together. The Deputy Commissioner of Food Safety, Mr. Jai Prakash, in his letter
to DCP (Enforcement) refers
to the Hon’ble Supreme Court order order of 23 September 2016, which bans sale,
storage and manufacturing of chewing tobacco products.
Dr. Pankaj Chaturvedi, Professor, Surgical Oncologist, Tata Memorial
Hospital has praised the Delhi Government's initiative.He said, in Delhi alone,
there are 30 lac tobacco users. 40% of these will die untimely deaths. Nearly
10,000 deaths every year are due to tobacco consumption in Delhi. There are
more than 5 million children in India who are addicted to tobacco. Appreciating the move, Project Manager of Sambandh Health Foundation,
Dr. Heena Shaikh said, "effective enforcement of this ban will lead to no
access of tobacco products to children. Delhi witnesses 81 children initiating
tobacco use everyday."
The Delhi Government has been keen on implementing the ban on chewing
tobacco and in April 2ducts016 the Commissioner of Food Safety, Government of
NCT of Delhi had issued a notification to enforce the ban. This order had been
challenged in the High Court but the Honorable Supreme Court's order of 23rd
September had called for total compliance. All states had been asked to file
affidavits indicating their compliance.The Department of Food Safety has made efforts to enforce the Supreme
Courts orders however the department has constrains on number of personnel.
This request to Delhi Police which has many more personnel and greater
enforcement ability is seen as a major crack-down on tobacco usage.
THe Delhi Police has been independently running a campaign to reduce the
prevalence of tobacco. Delhi Police is actively involved in implementing the
Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) which, among other
stipulations, bans smoking in public places. The Delhi Police has sensitised
and trained police personnel in 6 districts and is in process of training the
balance 7 districts. As such it is well positioned to take action on the gutkha
ban also. Tobacco industry has been by-passing the gutka ban by selling tobacco
and pan-masala separately as "twin-packs" which consumers mix and
use.
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