Law fails to curb tobacco sales near school premises

Though nearly a decade has passed since the introduction of a ban on the sale of tobacco products near educational institutions, the situation has largely remained the same with much of the sales continuing to target school and college students. Lack of coordination between police, local bodies and school authorities is mostly to be blamed.

The sale of tobacco within a 100-yard radius of educational institutions was prohibited in 2004 under Section 6(b) of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 (COTPA) from January to May 2013.

The act made it mandatory to install display boards outside educational institutions declaring the zone as tobacco-free. "Though occasional inspections are conducted by police, no coordinated effort is on," feels Sruthi Ravikumar, a parent residing at East Hill. School authorities are also not keen in tackling the issue, she complained.

According to statistics with city police, cases have been registered against 98 persons this year till May for selling tobacco products in such places. Police also collected fine of Rs 19,600 from offenders. But not a single case has been registered under section 6(a) (Prohibition and sale of tobacco products to minors) of COTPA during this period. On the other hand, no cases were registered for the sale of tobacco products in school premises in 2012. "Statistics reveal that we have intensified action against tobacco sellers," said a senior police official. Though I can't provide recent data, I believe the number of cases have gone down as cops now have less time for such operations owing to frequent protests by political parties and feeder organizations," he said.

Educational institutions too have a significant role in addressing the menace but they chose to keep mum. Few schools in the city have affixed 'Tobacco- Free Area' boards at their entrance. The direction to constitute anti-tobacco cells in all educational institutions has also not been followed by most institutions.

Police alone cannot stop the sale of tobacco to youngsters, said a police official. Coordination of parents and teachers is essential as they would be better aware of shops that sell such products to kids and operate in the prohibited area, he said, adding that they were planning to intensify the activities of school protection groups to curb the menace.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kozhikode/Law-fails-to-curb-tobacco-sales-near-school-premises/articleshow/21836925.cms