BEWARE SMOKERS: Amritsar and Rupnagar districts declared as ‘smoke free’ districts

Chandigarh August 14: Madan Mohan Mittal , Health and Family Welfare Minister, Punjab today formally declared Amritsar and Rupnagar districts as  smoke free’.

A decision to this effect was taken on the eve of Independence Day. He also congratulated  District Administration  of Amritsar and Rupnagar  who made consistent efforts in this regard.

School of Public Health PGIMER, Chandigarh was entrusted the task of conducting a Compliance survey and Opinion poll to verify the compliance of COTPA Act, 2003 (Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act) in Amritsar and Rupnagar.

Dr Sonu Goel, Assistant Professor,School of Public Health , PGIMER,Chandigarh, has in his report concluded that, absence of active smoking  was noticed in 95%and 92% of Public Places respectively in  Amritsar and Rupnagar districts.

Presence of signages was observed in more than 80% and 76.5%  public places respectively in  Amritsar and Rupnagar districts.

Dr. J P Singh, Director Health Services, Punjab added that this study paved the way for officially declaring Amritsar and Rupnagar districts ‘Smoke Free’ districts of Punjab,in line with Districts Ajitgarh and Mansa  which was declared as’ Smoke Free’,earlier. He  revealed that the contents of the study were shared by PGI with the media and other departments and stakeholders.

According to Dr. Rakesh Kumar Gupta, State Programme Officer, Tobacco Control Cell, Punjab, consistent efforts are being made to make entire Punjab ‘Smoke Free’ in a phased manner. It is very important to protect people from ill effects of Second hand Tobacco Smoke