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New Delhi: The smoking ban, a pet project of Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, that came into effect from October 2 last is yet to find lasting effectiveness.
Overcoming stiff resistance from the tobacco lobbyists, the dogged minister had stepped up his campaign and covered almost all public places, including hotels, restaurants, pubs, offices and international airports.
While some states were enthusiastic about implementing the ban, few showed reluctance. Incidentally, there is no visible sign of it on Delhi streets. Many diehard smokers who cannot leave their smokes behind are seen smoking on the streets and public places as always.
But there are few vendors in the heart of the city, Connaught Place, who said that sales were below the average for the past couple of months.
Rajesh, who runs a small shop in outer circle of CP, said that sales were down by 15 per cent. He admitted smoking was hazardous to health, but cited several other diseases that had nothing to do with smoking, yet killed thousands every year.
The manager of a restaurant in Vasant Vihar complained, saying: "The ban has come as a bad news. Most of our guests smoke. And people who smoke find ways and means to disregard the ban. If people are not allowed to smoke in public places, does it mean they stop smoking at home also?"
He questioned the ban when sale of cigarettes are allowed, "If cigarettes are being sold, there have to be places for people to smoke. Do these enforcement inspectors raid places in villages?"
On the other hand, there were women like Tripti, a school teacher, who felt that anti-smoking measures needed to become more stringent.
"Non-smokers are waiting to see if the penalty would be enhanced to Rs1000 (Dh75.95), as suggested by the minister earlier," she said.
Any violation of the ban on smoking in public places is a punishable offence with fine up to Rs200.
But that has not been much of a deterrent. Furthermore, punishments have been few and far between.
"Strict enforcement of laws and checking on sales of cigarettes especially at bus stops, railway stations and near schools and offices can facilitate non-smoking in public places becoming a reality," she suggested.
Infringement
"Smoking in a public place is an infringement on human rights. No one has the right to cause inconvenience and discomfort to others," she added.
Although Delhi has eight squads for penalising smokers and the part time mechanism earns Rs8 to 10 lakh for the Health Department annually, the issue still requires sincere and relentless efforts on the part of the citizens to eliminate smoking in public places.
The Directorate of Health Services has given more teeth to the non-smokers. On official said they intend to come down heavily on perpetrators.
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