Tobacco/Gutkha selling banned in ST bus-stand premises

By ENN, Ahmedabad: Gujarat State Transport Corporation(ST) has taken a decision to shut down all galla-shops that sell bidi, gutkha, cigarette and other tobacco products in all bus-stand premises across the state. The ST corporation canceled licensees of 150 such galla-shops statewide this week.

According to ST corporation's Secretary P.D.Patel, this new decision would reduce monthly Rs 8 lakh income of corporation but the step would be beneficial for public health and also ensure come cleanliness. The stalls have been given option to introduce dry-fruits, milk, fruits and other health worthy food products replacing tobacco and gutkha products.

Rs200 fine for smoking is already in implementation in ST buses presently.

It should also be mentioned here that early this month a division bench of Gujarat high court had advised the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) not to permit direct or indirect(surrogate) advertising of gutkha, pan masala and cigarettes on public transportation buses as such practices violate the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Rules, 2004.

There are several rules against smoking and chewing activities, but not all are followed. Smoking is banned in public premises but this rule is not followed well. To sell tobacco/gutkha products in 100 meter range of school premises is illegal but it is generally observed that wherever there is a school or college, there are pan-ka-gallas, without any fear of law. In a rare action, police in Junagadh raided 32 such gall-shops and arrested their owners. General feeling is that such raids should be frequent and everywhere for proper implementation of law.