Ban on smoking in public private places to come to effect from Oct. 2

Chennai, Sept 27 : Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss on Saturday said that the ban on smoking in public private places will come to effect from October 2nd and the penalty charge will be rupees two hundred at the initial stage.

He was participating in a Conference on International Study about Human Rights and Mental Health organised by the Department of Social Work Studies at Madras Christian College in Chennai, Principal Dr. V.J. Philip, staff of the department and students took part in this conference.

While speaking to the media, Ramadoss said the Centre is very keen and strong to bring a ban on smoking in public private places and all the State Governments had responded well in support of this ban. The ban would be effective from October 2nd, and it will be supervised by the State, Central Government officials and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO).

The Health Minister also informed the media that the penalty charges for smoking at the public private places would be Rs. 200 initially and thereafter it will be increased to Rs. 1000. He added that the hotels or the industries that allow smoking would also be penalized.

Ramadoss said in last ten months in England around 45,000 people have quitted smoking and he expects it would happen in India too.

Earlier speaking about the human rights and mental health in the programme he said India is worst affected in the world due to the use of tobacco. He informed the conference that around 62 million people in India are using alcohol.

Ramadoss further added that in last couple of years the usage of alcohols by minors had increased considerably and it is a destruction situation for the society in India.

ANI