Union health ministry’s decision to enforce pictorial warnings on tobacco products may meet a dead end in Uttar Pradesh. The reason:State Tobacco Control Cell (STCC) has been lying defunct for past several months. These cells were created across all states for monitoring the much publicised Ban on Smoking at Public Places Act-2008 in their jurisdiction. The cells in their domain were also to fix signages displaying that smoking was an offence in the area.

Not only this, headed by director level health official, STCC has not held any meeting since its constitution for past two years. Director (Medical Care) NP Singh, who heads STCC, has not convened any meeting since the cell came into being. Activists working for anti-tobacco awareness blame this on the apathy of authorities.

“We hardly find any signage at government offices. The Union government has provided 500 signages in all districts. It is a pity that none of them have come up at places to create awareness” rued Sharma. Added another activist, Pranay Lal, “Going by administrative apathy, it will not come as a surprise if the rules under Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act 2003 are openly violated. The monitoring for the pictorial warnings on tobacco products will also suffer with no follow up at local level.”

When contacted, director general medical health, Dr IS Srivastava said the matter was brought to his notice recently. “I have issued specific orders to ensure that STCC becomes functional in a month’s time,” he claimed.


Source: Times of India