Educational Institutions as we know like-schools,colleges and universities are a place where students go and study. It is a very special place because everyone,say, from the age of four,a boy or girl starts going there till the highest level.A place where it starts learning and growing up,where it spends almost one third of life.So,educational institutions are important place in the whole of society.It is also a public place where different colours,creeds,race and religion stays together,sitting under one roof.Therefore,because of all this phenomenon it should not be treated like other place rather it should have a special rules and regulation where everyone is guided by a uniform law.Students are a very important class of society,they are the future of our society as well as the leader for tomorrow’s world.That’s why their needs and aspirations should be look forward by the government.
From the short above statement we now are aware of how important our educational institutions are.As it is the place where students acquire the oldest to latest information,they need a good and sound mind,which is not disturb by any other thing.So,the best place to establish an educational institution is always the outskirt of a city or a town where the hustling and bustling cannot disturb the young minds.If it is near or just behind the roadside or in the heart of a city then the minds of the students can be affected by many other things. But sadly,this days because of the increase in population and growth of buildings in the cities or towns most of the educational institutions are forced to stand in the heart of the cities or towns. Yes, it is not the ideal place , but still then the authority can do something so that no students mind could be distracted from many other things which attempted them everyday. The Govt.of India,which is the govt.of the people,by the people and for the people knew very well this problems faced by the students of today who are to be the leaders of tomorrow. That’s why it made many provisions, schemes and passed various act to safeguard them. In this short article, it’s my pleasure to write down one of the act passed by the Govt. Of India to safeguard the students community from any tobacco products (We all know the bad effects of tobacco,so I am not going to write down concerning the effects) which is known as COTPA Act, 2003.
The Cigarette and Other Tobacco Product ( Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act,2003,in short COTPA is applicable to all products containing tobacco in any form i.e cigarettes,cigars, bidis,gutka, pan masala (containing tobacco),mavva, khaini, snuff etc. The Act extends to the whole of India. It is very important for everyone,specially for the educational institutions. Section 6 (b) of this Act prohibits sale of tobacco products near educational institutions,within the radius of 100 yard (300 ft). It is the duty of the educational institution’s authority to put up a display board outside the campus declaring that “ Sale of Tobacco Products within the radius of 100 yard (300 ft) is Scrictly Prohibited”. If anyone force violating this Act can be impose upto a fine of Rs.200 under Section 24 of the same Act. The enforcement agencies for implementating of this Act is the institutional head- Principal,Headmaster or mistress or Headteacher.
Along with other public places like- hospitals,workplaces, church and its compound, community hall, offices, playground, restaurant, hotel, bar, market, cinema hall, airport lounges, bus, sumo, taxi, autorickshaw and all other such places visited by the general public, amusement centres, railway station, bus stop etc. smoking in educational institution is also prohibited under Section 4 of COTPA Act,2003.
It also provides display of prominent non smoking signs, like- “ Smoking here is strictly prohibited”
(i) The board shall be of minimum size of 60 cm by 30 cm of white background.
(ii) It shall contain a circle of no less than 15 cm outer diameter with a red perimeter of no less than 3 cm wide with a picture,in the centre, of a cigarette or bidi with black smoke and crossed by a red band.
(iii) The width of the red band across the cigarette shall equal the width of the red perimeter.
(iv) The board shall contain the warning “ No Smoking Area- Smoking here is an Offence” in English or one Indian Language,as applicable.
Section 6(a) of COTPA Act 2003 also prohibits selling of any tobacco products to a person below the age of 18 who are mostly a students. The sellers should display a board to be put at the point of sale, declaring that “ sale of tobacco products to minors is prohibited”, violation of this rules can be impose upto a fine of Rs.200.
Besides these, Section 5 prohibits advertisement, promotion and sponshorship of all tobacco products, in all forms whether audio, visual, or print media both in direct and indirect. Section 7 demands specified health warning labels on all tobacco products.
So,as we have seen the above Act, it is very clear that minors who are mostly a students should be free from any tobacco products. But as we look at our beautiful city, this act is not effective everywhere. Through my research I have found out that Shillong being the educational centre of the whole North East Region is not following this Act. Rather, the tobacco products could be seen more than any other educational towns of the region. For instance, Laitumkhrah area of Shillong is the main centre of various educational institutions. Most of the schools and colleges are standing here,but interestingly, majority of the institutions are not free from selling of tobacco products near their campus. I can just name those schools and colleges but leaving aside that particular topic let us see why this Act is not effective. Is it the fault of the sellers or the institution? The sellers might be a daily wage earner,who are uneducated,illiterate and not aware of the Act. Indeed , it is a good place for them to earn money by selling those products since many students consume it. So they can easily gets money in their hands than any other place. But I don’t think if the authority of the institutions inform them to move out from their place,they will force to continue. It is really the authority of the institutions who can make the Act effective.It’s in their hand. Are they not aware of this Act? Seven years had past since the introduction of this Act but till today it seems no one is following in the city,the Act which extends to whole of India.Through this article I would like to request every educational institutions of the city to check this COTPA Act 2003 and make effective in all their campus. If we are successful in making effective first from the educational institutions it can be continue to other places as stated before.
Let us start preparing our own educational institutions,which is the pride of the city,the campus and the surrounding a “ No Smoking Area” or “ Sale of Tobacco Products Prohibited Area” then automatically other places will follow according to the Act,and once again our city will be a pride for every citizens.
**References-
1.ZoramToday(May 02-08,2011)
2.Smokefree Indore Division ( Indian Tobacco Control Act, COTPA 2003)
3.The Indian Tobacco Control Act : A Public Health Imperative- Dr. K.S.Reddy,Hony Executive Director,HRIDAY
From the short above statement we now are aware of how important our educational institutions are.As it is the place where students acquire the oldest to latest information,they need a good and sound mind,which is not disturb by any other thing.So,the best place to establish an educational institution is always the outskirt of a city or a town where the hustling and bustling cannot disturb the young minds.If it is near or just behind the roadside or in the heart of a city then the minds of the students can be affected by many other things. But sadly,this days because of the increase in population and growth of buildings in the cities or towns most of the educational institutions are forced to stand in the heart of the cities or towns. Yes, it is not the ideal place , but still then the authority can do something so that no students mind could be distracted from many other things which attempted them everyday. The Govt.of India,which is the govt.of the people,by the people and for the people knew very well this problems faced by the students of today who are to be the leaders of tomorrow. That’s why it made many provisions, schemes and passed various act to safeguard them. In this short article, it’s my pleasure to write down one of the act passed by the Govt. Of India to safeguard the students community from any tobacco products (We all know the bad effects of tobacco,so I am not going to write down concerning the effects) which is known as COTPA Act, 2003.
The Cigarette and Other Tobacco Product ( Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act,2003,in short COTPA is applicable to all products containing tobacco in any form i.e cigarettes,cigars, bidis,gutka, pan masala (containing tobacco),mavva, khaini, snuff etc. The Act extends to the whole of India. It is very important for everyone,specially for the educational institutions. Section 6 (b) of this Act prohibits sale of tobacco products near educational institutions,within the radius of 100 yard (300 ft). It is the duty of the educational institution’s authority to put up a display board outside the campus declaring that “ Sale of Tobacco Products within the radius of 100 yard (300 ft) is Scrictly Prohibited”. If anyone force violating this Act can be impose upto a fine of Rs.200 under Section 24 of the same Act. The enforcement agencies for implementating of this Act is the institutional head- Principal,Headmaster or mistress or Headteacher.
Along with other public places like- hospitals,workplaces, church and its compound, community hall, offices, playground, restaurant, hotel, bar, market, cinema hall, airport lounges, bus, sumo, taxi, autorickshaw and all other such places visited by the general public, amusement centres, railway station, bus stop etc. smoking in educational institution is also prohibited under Section 4 of COTPA Act,2003.
It also provides display of prominent non smoking signs, like- “ Smoking here is strictly prohibited”
(i) The board shall be of minimum size of 60 cm by 30 cm of white background.
(ii) It shall contain a circle of no less than 15 cm outer diameter with a red perimeter of no less than 3 cm wide with a picture,in the centre, of a cigarette or bidi with black smoke and crossed by a red band.
(iii) The width of the red band across the cigarette shall equal the width of the red perimeter.
(iv) The board shall contain the warning “ No Smoking Area- Smoking here is an Offence” in English or one Indian Language,as applicable.
Section 6(a) of COTPA Act 2003 also prohibits selling of any tobacco products to a person below the age of 18 who are mostly a students. The sellers should display a board to be put at the point of sale, declaring that “ sale of tobacco products to minors is prohibited”, violation of this rules can be impose upto a fine of Rs.200.
Besides these, Section 5 prohibits advertisement, promotion and sponshorship of all tobacco products, in all forms whether audio, visual, or print media both in direct and indirect. Section 7 demands specified health warning labels on all tobacco products.
So,as we have seen the above Act, it is very clear that minors who are mostly a students should be free from any tobacco products. But as we look at our beautiful city, this act is not effective everywhere. Through my research I have found out that Shillong being the educational centre of the whole North East Region is not following this Act. Rather, the tobacco products could be seen more than any other educational towns of the region. For instance, Laitumkhrah area of Shillong is the main centre of various educational institutions. Most of the schools and colleges are standing here,but interestingly, majority of the institutions are not free from selling of tobacco products near their campus. I can just name those schools and colleges but leaving aside that particular topic let us see why this Act is not effective. Is it the fault of the sellers or the institution? The sellers might be a daily wage earner,who are uneducated,illiterate and not aware of the Act. Indeed , it is a good place for them to earn money by selling those products since many students consume it. So they can easily gets money in their hands than any other place. But I don’t think if the authority of the institutions inform them to move out from their place,they will force to continue. It is really the authority of the institutions who can make the Act effective.It’s in their hand. Are they not aware of this Act? Seven years had past since the introduction of this Act but till today it seems no one is following in the city,the Act which extends to whole of India.Through this article I would like to request every educational institutions of the city to check this COTPA Act 2003 and make effective in all their campus. If we are successful in making effective first from the educational institutions it can be continue to other places as stated before.
Let us start preparing our own educational institutions,which is the pride of the city,the campus and the surrounding a “ No Smoking Area” or “ Sale of Tobacco Products Prohibited Area” then automatically other places will follow according to the Act,and once again our city will be a pride for every citizens.
**References-
1.ZoramToday(May 02-08,2011)
2.Smokefree Indore Division ( Indian Tobacco Control Act, COTPA 2003)
3.The Indian Tobacco Control Act : A Public Health Imperative- Dr. K.S.Reddy,Hony Executive Director,HRIDAY
NOTE: This article is published on " CITIZEN TODAY" an annual newspaper of St.Anthony's College, Shillong, edited and published by B.A 1st Yr. Media Technologies, Mass Media Department,2011
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