PANAJI
Recognising the harmful effects of tobacco and tobacco industry’s sinister design to specifically target vulnerable children as their new consumers, harsher penalties have now been imposed on sale of tobacco to minor under the newly introduced Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 of Union Ministry of Women and Child Development.
The Act, which came into force on January 15, 2016, embodies a path breaking amendment to curb the growing menace of tobacco through modification of Section 77. The Section now holds that it is an offence against a child, if a person gives or causes to be given, to any child any intoxicating liquor or any narcotic drug or tobacco products or psychotropic substance, except on the order of a duly qualified medical practitioner.
Offenders face rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to a fine which may extend up to Rs one lakh.
Dr Shekhar Salkar, secretary National Oganisation for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE)-India said, “The earlier law, Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act 2003, miserably failed to protect the sale to minors because the fine imposed was only Rs 200. With this act, India has become the only nation in the entire world to impose such a harsh penalty for sale of tobacco to minors and by minors.”
NOTE-India appreciated the efforts of Union Mnister of Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi in enforcing the Act.
Nearly 27.5 crore Indians consume tobacco and in case of a vast majority, the habit begins during their childhood. Conservative estimates of tobacco attributable deaths in India are about 10 lakhs a year.
As per Global Adult tobacco Survey, the age of initiation of tobacco habits in India is 17 years. As per Global Youth Tobacco survey, up to 20 per cent of children in India are users of tobacco with more than 5500 children and adolescents consuming the intoxicant daily.
Dr Salkar stated, “It is proven beyond doubt that tobacco kills every third user prematurely through cancer, heart disease, stroke etc”
As per the Act, ‘Child Welfare Police Officers’ in every police station, not below the rank of assistant sub-inspector, are designated under Section 107(1) of the Act as enforcement officers. These officers exclusively are expected to exclusively deal with children, either as victims or perpetrators, in co-ordination with the police, voluntary and NGOs.
