Tobacco ban crackdown rakes in Rs 1.55 lakh in Jorhat

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

JORHAT, April 29: With an aim to stop tobacco use in public places, Jorhat District Tobacco Control Cell (DTCC) has imposed fine against defaulters and collected an amount of Rupees 1.55 lakh during 2015-16. This amount is the highest amongst fines collected by any district in the state. Stating this in the District Level Coordition Committee meeting, Dr. Bhaktimoy Bhattacharjya, Nodal Officer, DTCC informed about efforts to declare the entire district as No Tobacco Zone as the same will ease out the process for complete control of tobacco use in the district in the forthcoming years.

Bhattacharjya further said that during 2015-16, eight schools were declared Tobacco Free Zone taking the district total up to 100 nos. As per Tobacco Control Act, an institution can be declared as Tobacco Free Zone when there is complete ban on use of tobacco products and there is no sale of tobacco products within 100 meter radius.

Highlighting various activities taken up by DTCC for tobacco control, the Nodal Officer added that this has brought tangible changes in the lives of villagers of Lakhimikhat and Teok Sori Model village.

Bubul Lekharu, ADC, Jorhat who presided over the meeting said, “Sustaible efforts are required to bring about a change of attitude amongst tobacco users”.

Representatives of State Health Department, Education Department and NGOs also took part in the meeting.