Punjab News- Punjab first state to declare e-cigarettes as illegal: Dr. Rana

Chandigarh, October 9, 2013: A three day Smokefree workshop is being organised by The Union South-East Asia (The Union ) on implementation of Prohibition of smoking at public places under Cigarettes and  Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003 here at chandigarh. Vini Mahajan, Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Punjab inaugurated the workshop.
Speaking on the occasion, Vini Mahajan emphasised on the importance to protect the general public from harmful effects of second-hand smoke. She stated that 12 districts of Punjab have already been declared Tobacco smoke-free and Government of Punjab is committed to enforce the law and make whole Punjab as a Tobacco Smoke-free state. She revealed that from Jan 2013 to August 2013, more than 17000 violators have been challaned under COTPA.
Dr. Rana from 'The Union' told that Punjab is the first state in which State Drug Controller has declared e-cigarettes as illegal. Hemant Goswami from Burning Brain Society, Chandigarh during his address stressed that all of us should work for phasing out and focus on eradicating the use of tobacco. He also emphasised that it is responsibility of Ministry of Health, Government of India to ensure that states are fully supported for tobacco control. Dr.L.Swasticharan, Chief Medical Officer, Ministry of Health, Government of India  emphasised that the role of multi-player involvement for effective tobacco control and the Central Government would be extending support for the State Tobacco Control Cell at Chandigarh.
He said district Bathinda has been included this year under National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), while adding that NTCP is being rolled out to include more districts in the country in a phased manner during the XII Plan period.
The delegates from 12 states which included state nodal officers, civil societies representatives, public health experts attended the workshop. www.cityairnews.com