Govt planning massive campaign to make Delhi tobacco free

On the eve of No Tabacco Day, Delhi Government today issued several instructions to discourage its consumption and said a massive campaign will be launched to make the national capital a tobacco free state.
Chief Secretary SK Srivastava today convened a meeting of state-level coordination committee for tobacco control at Delhi Secretariat and issued instructions to discourage tobacco consumption.
In the meeting, Srivastava, who is also the chairman of this committee, stressed upon the need for launching massive campaign for making Delhi a tobacco free state by taking the movement to densely populated areas, various colonies, markets, educational institutions, public places, JJ clusters, slum areas and villages.

He also directed the officers to take necessary steps for restriction of display of direct/indirect advertisement of tobacco products especially through inter state bus services.
"It has been decided that commissioner transport (Delhi) will immediately take up this issue with neighbouring states transport departments.
"It has also been decided to make all public transport including autos, bus, radio taxi as tobacco free and necessary stickers/signages will be required to be pasted in side the vehicle," said a government official.
The chief secretary also directed the food safety commissioner to take necessary steps to ban all chewable tobacco products in Delhi. In consultation with law department a notification will be issued very soon.

The official also added that in the meeting, a decision was also taken to enhance tobacco taxes and it has been advised that this issue will be taken in front of state empowered committee and accordingly decision will be taken later on.