Jamshedpur: The district administration on Thursday decided to ensure prohibition of sale of tobacco products near city schools. The decision was taken during a meeting held to mark �No Tobacco Day� at district leprosy office (DLO) in Sakchi. From now a campaign will run declaring their campus as tobacco free and warning of punishment to shops selling tobacco products within 100 yards of their campus.
� It is an important issue and we want address it. We had informed verbally to various schools earlier. But today we have decided to write to all the private and government schools to not only write on their campus boundary walls declaring the area as tobacco free and also warning shopkeepers from selling their products within 100 yards of their campus. We understand that most of the schools are closed for summer vacations and we will be ensuring compliance soon after vacations,� said East Singhbhum district civil surgeon, DrMaheshwar Prasad.
Despite orders from the administration, there is widespread use of tobacco in various schools and public places in the city. Be its hotels, bus stand, railway stations, private and government hospitals and even educational institutions the menace of smoking in public is still rampant.
� Some NGOs have decided to support and partner with us in our endeavour. As per their plans posters banners will be put up to educate people against use of tobacco products as it would have harmful effects on their health. I think this will help in spreading greater awareness in the public,� said an official.
In the first phase some hoardings have come up in Bistupur, Jugsalai, Telco, Golmuri, Kadma and Baghbera.
�We are voluntarily taking the initiative for a greater cause. We want to set up more such banners across the city,� said an official.
Meanwhile, district administration has also lined up for harsher penalties after few days of educating the masses against ills of consumption of tobacco products. Schools and colleges, hospitals, restaurants, cinemas and administrative offices are on the list of public places and posters would also be placed near such public places.
On the other hands openly defying the law, the tobacco shops are doing brisk business within 100 yards of educational and medical institution. School and college going students are often found smoking in the nearby shops. �Everyone wants to make profit with their business and we get the maximum number of customers at this place. When the State administration is not concerned about the issue why should we?� said Madan, a shop owner next to DBMS English School.
