MARGAO
The District Level Coordination Committee for Tobacco Control for South Goa on Tuesday has mulled an action plan to increase raids and ensure strict enforcement of displaying no-tobacco boards in government departments, including complexes, as part of the efforts to make the district tobacco-free.
Taking serious cognizance of the entry of cigarettes from countries such as China and Turkey and the availability of tobacco outside school premises, it has been resolved to take up a concerted campaign to put in place Tobacco Control Committee in schools, which will have members of the PTA and the management.
The meeting was informed that the Tourism Department has identified 27 beaches across the coast where no-tobacco boards will be installed in due course of time.
It has also been decided to take up awareness programmes at the Margao railway station for the benefit of incoming and outgoing passengers and warn them how tobacco is injurious to health.
The meeting chaired by South Goa Additional Collector, Agnelo Fernandes, took a review of the number of government departments that have complied with the decision to install no-tobacco boards in their respective departments.
The Additional Collector later told the media that the departments of KTC and the Hospicio hospital have submitted reports after having complied with the task of displaying no-tobacco boards. “Other departments have also complied with the directive of installing boards, but they have not submitted their reports,” Agnelo said.
He pointed out that the enforcement wings will ensure that tobacco packets contain all the warning signals and signages as part of the efforts to dissuade youngsters from falling prey. “We will soon come out with countermeasures to keep unscrupulous dealers and vendors at bay,” he warned.
Goacan Coordinator, Roland Martins, later told the media that it has been decided to install no-tobacco boards at all the fair price shops across the district, saying the Civil Supplies Department has promised to cooperate.
Saying that the Director of Panchayats has been proactive on tobacco-free state, Martins said it has been decided to propose to the director to get the panchayats to pass resolutions on Republic Day to make villages tobacco-free.
