On the occasion of World No-Tobacco day ( which incidently was called World tobacco Day by many news dailies!), the Union Minister for Health, Mr Ramadoss held a press conference and came out with a few feel-good measures to curb smoking in public.

He stated that smoking would not be allowed in Railway premises, Airports, movie halls, malls, shops, bars, pubs, offices (Govt and private) and all places where there might be interaction with other people. Smoking would be allowed henceforth only in two places. Home and on the streets.

He also mentioned that there are laws existing which prohibit one from smoking in any public place. It is a totally different matter that the said laws are not followed by anyone. Not even the law enforcers. The minister also mentions that the new laws would be enforced from October 2. The point that everyone forgot is that if a law already exists, why should it not be implemented? Whats stops the police from catching an offender today instead of waiting for October 2? And what is the guarantee that come Oct 2, the law would be strictly enforced?

The minister is also mum on citizen’s rights in asking smokers to either stop or move away. So maybe if one finds a smoker on a train, we would have to lodge a complaint with a smoking hawaldar before any action is taken. There has also been no quote on the prohibition of sale of cigarettes in areas near schools and in residential areas. The law states that no cigarette can be sold within 100m of an educational institution or a hospital. The Minister has not given any commitment on the same.

Rounding up, the Minister’s statements appear more like a PR exercise on the occasion of World No-Tobacco Day than any serious talk.

Image Courtesy: www.algarvebuzz.com