Come October 2, the revised smoking control rules would be applicable in India as per the announcement of the Health Minister Ambumani Ramadoss on 11th July’08. The five-year-old rule has been revised as many anti-tobacco activists felt it was ineffective in many ways.
The amended rules, in principle would allow staff-whether a housemaid or a waiter in restaurant- to demand their work place remain smoke free. Smoking has also been banned in private and public buildings and places of large congregations like railway platforms, stadiums, bus stops etc.
The new rules will now allow people smoking only inside their homes or in complete open streets. In case of restaurants with seating capacities of 30 or more, smoking is allowed in specified zones created by erecting barriers from floor to roof with exhaust fans.
“The rules have become very clear and explicit now,” said Monika Arora director of Hriday-Shan, an NGO in New Delhi, which has been promoting health education among youths and campaigning for tougher rules to discourage smoking. While smokers could be fined for violations, even owners and supervisors of work places can be held responsible for violations, she said.
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