Police Conduct Workshop for CIs, SIs

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The City Police will embark on a time-bound action plan to make the capital a tobacco-free district as per the provisions of the Indian tobacco control law COTPA, 2003.

A decision to this effect was taken after a multi-stakeholder meeting chaired by the District Collector. The action plan has been charted to make Thiruvananthapuram a ‘’model COTPA-compliant district.’’

As part of this initiative, Circle Inspectors and Sub Inspectors attended a half-day workshop in which they were explained the various sections of COTPA and the steps for achieving model compliance status.

Deputy Commissioner of Police S Ajeetha Begum spoke about the purpose of the training programme and asked all officers to take strict action against COTPA violations.

“We are embarking on a prestigious project that will have positive implications on the health and well-being of our people,” she said, even while calling for strengthening reporting of COTPA violations.

Faculty member DySP (Retd) K Mohana Kumar made an audio-visual presentation and explained the various sections of COTPA and the punitive measures prescribed for violation of each.

Section 4 of COTPA prohibits smoking in all public places; acts of violation will invite a fine up to Rs 200. Public places have also to put up mandatory no smoking signages in the prescribed size and format at the entrance and conspicuous places inside. Educational institutions, hospitals, restaurants, cinema halls and the like are included in the list of public places, he said.

Joint Commissioner, Food Safety K Anil Kumar explained that products such as gutka and pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine have been banned in Kerala as per the 2011 regulation of the Food Safety and Standards Act of India, 2006.

As per this Act, tobacco and nicotine shall not be used as an ingredient in any food product and that the product should not contain any substance that is injurious to health. He also sought stronger coordination between Food Safety and other implementing departments such as Police and Health for effective enforcement of the ban in Kerala.