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In TN, sale of tobacco based products outside schools goes nonstop
Posted on: 27/Mar/2019 10:44:47 AM
This news would surely send shock waves to many parents in Tamil Nadu. It is well known that the government introduced ban on the sale of tobacco within 100 yards or approximately 100 m radius around the schools in TN. This was as per the COTPA or Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act.
Recently a survey was carried out and it was found that out of 487 shops surveyed inside the radius of the schools across 20 cities in India as many as 225 shops sold tobacco based products. It is important to mention here that in places like Chennai, Coimbatore and in Pudukottai etc as many as 68 schools were surveyed and it was found that there were 34 violations. As many as 14 schools were surveyed in Chennai city and the information got is 10 were blatant about the sale of tobacco and the rest were selling tobacco products very secretly.
Correspondent of NSN Group of Schools in Chennai, Chitra Prasad expressed her feelings about the sale of tobacco products near her schools. She explained about how her schools have got boards at 100 yards of the premises stating that they are tobacco free zones. She was unhappy and angry regarding petty shop owners who were selling tobacco products and thereby violating the rule.
It was then pointed out by the correspondent that initially the petty shop owners would not agree about selling tobacco products but the truth is these shop owners sell tobacco products near the schools. This was proved when the staffs of the schools went to the shops under the guise of buying cigarettes. Inspite of giving complaints to the police regarding the sale of tobacco products near the schools, no action has been taken yet.
On Tuesday, Tamil Nadu findings of the survey Big Tobacco Tiny Targets were released. It must be noted that according to Mr. Amarjeet Singh Panghal of Consumer Voice, New Delhi, the mandatory warning display board was present only at 4 out of 34 points of sale. The point is these shops target young kids as young as eight in the state of TN by means of the advertisements near the schools. As per section 77 of the Juvenile Justice Act 2015, it is crime to distribute tobacco products to the children. This was also confirmed by Mr. Amarjeet Singh Panghal. In association with CAI or Consumers Association with India, the Chennai survey was carried out.
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