Private offices and other establishments can no longer take the cover of having designated rooms for puffing cigarettes with the government sticking to plans to strictly enforce the ban on smoking indoors from October 2.
And if the smokers cannot resist the urge to have a puff they will have to come out to the streets.
"From October 2, the government would introduce the no-smoking policy in all indoor establishments," Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss told reporters here today. The "workplace smoke-free policy" is coming into effect to coincide with the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
"Smoking will not be permitted in any private or public building. Companies can no longer have designated smoking rooms. Smokers will have to step outside into open space if they wish to smoke," said Ramadoss, who has been in the forefront in pushing for the ban on tobacco and tobacco products.
The ban applies to all companies, including the IT sector, he said. The rule would also apply to small cafes, restaurants, pubs or discotheques. Hotels having more than 30 seats would have to create a separate enclosure for smokers and a separate ventilation arrangement as per the Act, he said.
At present, the punitive action for those violating the ban is Rs 200 but the ministry was keen on enhancing it to Rs 1,000 for individuals committing the offence and Rs 5,000 for organisations. The government would run a series of advertisements highlighting the ban. Celebrities including Bollywood stars would be roped in to publicise the no-smoking rule.
A pictorial warning would also be carried on all tobacco products with effect from December 1. Tobacco manufacturers have been notified and given three months’ time to comply.
The warnings initially would carry the picture of a scorpion but would get more pronounced with pictures relating to cancer, he said.
