The state government on Monday directed all bars and restaurants to comply with the rules that prohibit smoking in public places.
“We have been receiving complaints on non-compliance of these rules by bars and restaurants. Health Department officials, in coordination with the police, will raid such places and take stern action,” said Health and Family Welfare Department commissioner V B Patil.
He told reporters that the Department’s Anti-tobacco Cell has registered 10,336 cases and collected `10,79,797 since 2008. Over 1,000 cases are pending in court, he said.
To create awareness about cancer caused by consuming tobacco, the Health Department has selected 10 districts where cancer awareness programmes will be conducted under the sponsorship of the Bloomberg Philanthropies Foundation, which will give over `1 crore for the purpose, he said.
Ten districts will soon get financial assistance for the cancer control awareness programme, he said. Bangalore Urban, Bangalore Rural, Ramanagar, Mandya, Mysore, Hassan, Dharwad, Belguam, Yadgir and Gulbarga will be covered under the initiative, said Patil.
Awareness Rally
On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day which will be observed on Friday, a rally will be taken out from Lalbagh to the Tobacco Cessation Centre in NIMHANS, he said. The rally will be attended by Health Minister U T Khader and Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy.
He also said the Health and Family Welfare Department held a meeting recently and sent a circular to all the health officers to carry out inspection and submit a report every month.
Patil further said farmers from Periyapatna and Nippani, who grow tobacco,
may have to look for more commercial and alternate crops. “Earlier, a high-power committee was formed under the chairmanship of the chief secretary to the state government to monitor tobacco control, including cultivation,” he said.
Campaigns
The Department will take up the campaigning process from Tuesday, Patil said.
Radio jingles, television advertisements, religious leaders and cinema artistes
will take part in the initiative, he said.
“This year’s campaign on World No Tobacco Day will be ‘No to Advertisement, No to Sponsorship and No to Encouragement,” he added.