WINIFRED NORRIS
World no tobacco day reminds us to abstain from smoking and consumption of tobacco. Celebrated every year on May 31, the day has always educated people especially passive smokers about the risks they are exposed to. This year, the observance focuses on the wrath of tobacco and on healthy lungs.
In Goa, the Goa Civic and Consumer Action Network (GOACAN) has been working towards better implementation of COTPA (Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act). “We at GOACAN found that the global tobacco industry was making greater roads into Goa being a tourist destination,” says the organisation’s coordinator Roland Martins while outlining the problems tobacco creates in the state. “It is important that COTPA is known to the consumers, and we undertake awareness for the cause under our Consumer Literacy Campaign since August 2009,” he informs.
As a part of its campaign, the organisation is currently raising awareness at the street level through rallies and other programmes. “Our priority has been to see that Section 4 of COTPA which provides for a ban on smoking in public places is complied with by ensuring that proper signage is put up first in all government offices and buildings,” explains the consumer-rights activist. “We are also circulating a Goa fact sheet which carries the findings of the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) so that it reaches all the elected representatives,” adds Martins.
He further states that a number of cigarette vendors sell tobacco and cigarettes to minors which is an offence in the eyes of the law. According to Martins, there are sections of COTPA to deal with such matters and the assistance of the Police can be sought immediately. “Our goal in this regard has been to look at the enforcement of Section 6 (a) of the Act, which requires that those selling tobacco products display the sign ‘Sale of Tobacco Products to a person below the age of 18 years is a punishable offence’. To that end, we have successfully made efforts to get this subject discussed in gram sabhas and Parent Teacher Association meets at educational institutions,” Martins avers.
GOACAN has also launched a special drive foreign cigarettes smuggled into the state without paying taxes. These too are illegally sold to minors as some of the cigarettes come in strawberry and chocolate flavors that attract children. “One foreign brand packet of 20 cigarettes is available for as little as Rs 50 while an Indian brand costs over Rs 300 thereby making it an easy buy for kids,” informs the GOACAN coordinator.
GOACAN has suggested educational institutions to create a sensitized management, faculty and students council that will bring about greater vigilance on the campus and help tackle sale of tobacco products. The initiative also includes involvement of Consumer Welfare Clubs (CWCs) to create an awareness on the campus about ill effects of Tobacco.
“The head of the educational institution, after tackling the matter as per their campus rules and regulations, can also seek police assistance. We are now working on the enforcement of Section 6 (b) which prohibits the sale of tobacco products within the radius of 100 yards of any educational institution. Efforts are also on to implement guidelines for a tobacco free school by activating tobacco control committees in educational institutions”, concludes the GOACAN activist.
