Ensure Enforcement Under COTPA Act in Tobacco-Free Youth Campaign 2.0

Jaipur : As part of the 60-day Tobacco-Free Youth Campaign 2.0, which began on September 26, all districts are required to ensure enforcement actions, including fines and confiscation, under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) and the E-Cigarette Ban Act of 2019. Each officer should work towards the targets set by the commissionerate.

Addressing a review meeting via video conference on Monday, Food Safety and Drug Control Commissioner Mr. Iqbal Khan directed officials to strictly implement provisions of the COTPA Act. These include displaying pictorial warnings, preventing sales to individuals under 18, banning advertisements of tobacco products, and prohibiting smoking in public areas.

Mr. Khan instructed authorized officers (ADC, DCO) to update the enforcement action reports daily on the central government’s portal through the District Tobacco Control Cell. The state-level tobacco cell will regularly review the campaign’s progress. He also emphasized monitoring the illegal trade, sale, and use of narcotic drugs in various districts and ensuring proper action under the NDPS Act.

Supreme Court Advocate Mr. Ranjit, who joined via video conference, provided detailed information about the COTPA Act and its amendments. He highlighted that smoking in public places affects the right to life and comes under Section 4 of the COTPA Act, requiring strict enforcement by the concerned authorities.

Joint Director of the State Tobacco Cell, Dr. S.N. Dholpuria, gave a detailed presentation on the campaign’s progress.

The video conference was attended by Additional Commissioner for Food Safety and Drug Control Mr. Pankaj Ojha, Drug Controller Mr. Ajay Fatak, Mr. Rajaram Sharma, and other relevant officials. Chief Medical and Health Officers, Deputy CMHOs, Drug Control Officers, Food Safety Officers, and District IEC Coordinators from various districts also participated.

Show-Cause Notices Issued to 15 CMHOs

The Medical and Health Department issued show-cause notices to the Chief Medical and Health Officers of 15 districts for not organizing activities according to the Tobacco-Free Youth Campaign 2.0 plan and failing to update daily reports on the portal. Notices were sent to the CMHOs of Bundi, Didwana-Kuchaman, Gangapur City, Neem Ka Thana, Jodhpur City, Jodhpur Rural, Deeg, Kotputli-Behror, Balotra, Dudu, Phalodi, Sanchore, Kekri, Shahpura, and Salumber, according to Director of Public Health Dr. Raviprakash Mathur.