Visitor in Haryana Health Institutions to Deposit Tobacco Products on Entrance

Chandigarh, Apr 12 (PTI) Drop boxes will be installed at the entrance of health institutions in Haryana where visitors will have to deposit cigarettes or any tobacco products they carry before entering the premises.

Besides, drivers and conductors of Haryana Roadways buses would be imparted training and made conscious of the need to stop and check smoking in buses, a decision to this effect was taken at the state level coordination meeting and orientation workshop under the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) chaired by the Additional Chief Secretary, Health Department, Amit Jha, here today.

Every health institution in the state would now have a transparent drop box at the entrance gate to enable the visitors and staff to keep their tobacco and related products before entering the premises. However, they can claim them back while leaving, an official said.

It was also decided that sign boards would be put up at public places and in roadways buses telling people that smoking is prohibited. These sign boards would carry number and address of the authorities concerned so that any complaint could be lodged with them.

The meeting was informed that all departments would appoint Nodal Officers to implement provisions of the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act 2003. Apart from this, they would also put up sign boards in their offices and spread awareness among the staff members.

Officers of the Development and Panchayat Department have been directed to spread awareness among office-bearers of Panchayati Raj Institutions and village heads to put a check on the use of tobacco products in rural areas.

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