Chandigarh, June 5: The Haryana government had directed all educational institutes in the state to install boxes at their entrances where visitors will have to deposit cigarettes or any tobacco products they carry before entering the premises. Earlier, similar directions were issued for the healthcare institutions in the state.

"The Haryana government has directed all educational institutions to place or fix a drop box at the entrance into which any tobacco products carried by anyone can be dropped before entering the premises. This rule will apply to the public and government officials," a spokesperson said today. He said the state government had decided to implement Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003 to ward off their negative effects.

The Health Department would be the nodal department for implementation of this rule. Apart from this, directions have been issued for display of an appropriate sign on the premises of educational institutions or offices under Section 4 of COTPA. A display board should be put up outside educational institutes, the spokesperson said.