Make J&K smoke free State: JK Miniister Akhoon

    Srinagar, May 31 (Scoop News) – The Minister for CA&PD and Transport, Qamar Ali Akhoon stressed upon the people to create an atmosphere in their areas for non smoking and ensure to make as much places smoke free so that Jammu and Kashmir itself becomes a smoke free State. He said that NGO’s, politician, educated youth, print and electronic media can play a pivotal role in the society to control tobacco use. He said religious scholars can also play their role as their speeches have a good impact.

An awareness cum training programme of Senior Level Police Officers and Drug Control Inspectors was organized by J&K Voluntary Health and Development Association (JKVHDA) in collaboration with Greater Kashmir and Big 92.7 FM for the effective and enforcement of Tobacco Control Act 2003,in Srinagar on Sunday evening.

            The Minister for CA&PD and Transport, . Qamar Ali Akhoon while inaugurated the sensitization programme said the enforcement agency should take effective steps for ensuring prohibition of smoking in public places for protecting the health of the people in the State. He directed the law enforcement agencies to strictly implement anti narcotic law to get the society rid off the menace of drug trafficking and addiction.

                       “God has created human beings with a sense to judge between good and bad so we have to follow good, . Akhoon added”. He appreciated the working of JKVHDA, who they played to curb the use of tobacco in public places, working place, Government offices, education institutions, vehicles and public parks. He asked them to organize awareness programmes at all district headquarters regarding the hazards of smoking.

            District Development Commissioner, Srinagar, . Mehraj Ahmed Kakroo and Senior Superintendent of Police, Srinagar, . Mohammad Ashraf Baidar also spoke on the occasion and hoped that the trainees will create adequate awareness amongst the people about the hazards of tobacco and its products. The trainee, they said would help to propagate the experiences and education gained during the training programme about the tobacco addiction and maintain a healthy society.

            Chairman of the Association Dr. G.Q. Allaqaband explained emphasized that Government and NGO’s should create awareness on sustained basis amongst the people about the hazards of smoking. He said “smoking is injurious to health and social evil” and injurious to health, causing various ailments both in men and women, leading to chest complications and lung cancer.

            Advocate Farheen Syeed Kapra dealt with the legal aspects of Tobacco Control Act particularly with reference to Section 4 which prohibits smoking in public places and Section 6 (a) ban on sale of tobacco products to persons below 18 years of age and Section 6 (b)  ban on sale of tobacco products within 100 yards of any educational institutions.

            A senior representative of VHA of India, s. Seema Gupta shared tobacco control experiences of other State’s of India and emphasized on the enforcement officers to take effective steps for the implementation of various provision of Tobacco Control Act 2003.

            Retired Executive Director JKVHDA, . A.M. Mir organizer of this training programme has briefly mentioned the purpose of this sensitization programme and suggested that besides stronger and effective implementation of section 4 and 6, the enforcement agency should ensure that all shops and retail outlets selling tobacco products to persons below 18 years of age is punishable.

            Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, s. Naseem Lankar, District Development Commissioner, Ganderbal, Sayeed Iftikar-ul-Hasnain Baari. Joint Director of Information, Kashmir, . Farooq Ahmed Lone, senior level officers of Police, Drug Control Department, media persons and representative of JKVHDA and Voluntary Health Association of India also attended the awareness cum training programme.

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