Butt No Love for Mahatma

Don't smoke if you have respect for Mahatma, urges Soren

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi , RANCHI Friday, October 3, 2008

Lighting up a rolled tobacco at public places can cost you Rs 200. With the enforcement of ban on smoking as per the directive of the Central Government across the country from Thursday, some heave a sigh of relief while others fume.

A law prohibiting smoking at public places, which largely remained ignored for the last four years, came into effect with Supreme Court's refusal to stay the ban. On Monday, the apex court cleared the way for the new ban to take effect on October 2, the birthday anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the icon of peace and love who did not smoke, drink or eat meat. Message is clear, only if you follow it- "Do not smoke if you have any respect for Mahatma," appealed Chief Minister Shibu Soren.

In the State capital, the writ is written large at public places like banks, hospitals, colleges, and offices, prominently prohibiting smoking on its premises. However, only the coming days would decide whether the State machinery was able to enforce the blanket ban on smoking or not. At least on the very first day either caring for the law or out of fears, a good number of smokers resisted from smoking at public places while some were seen puffing cigarettes.

The State Police is yet to decide the way to enforce the ban and waiting for directives from the State Government. On being asked about the preparedness to enforce the ban on smoking, Jharkhand Police spokesperson SN Pradhan said, "The State Police is yet to receive directives from the State Government about the enforcement. We hope to receive the directives in a couple of days, and then it would be easier for us to know the measures of enforcement."

Although from past one month the Health Ministry through several advertisements has been making it clear about the authorities those who could impose fines and take punitive actions.

Assuring of enforcement of the law, the City SP said, "We are very clear on this aspect. We will not let anybody smoke at public places. We would certainly ask our cops to catch violators if they still go against the law."

Instigating a debate between smokers and non-smokers, people are skeptical about the blanket ban, although the two agree that smoking is deadly. Local pan shops across the town served as a dais for both the groups. Pro-smokers appeared to be anxious about the ban and termed it "an attempt to demonise smokers" while pro-ban activists were eager to see the response to the law.

Vinay Singh, who is working with a leading finance company, said, "The Government should not place an outright ban on smoking; it could have been done in a phase-wise manner."

More or less people seem to have welcomed the ban. Avay Kanth, who termed himself as second-hand smoker as his office colleagues continue to smoke in the office, is happy with the decision. "Smokers who care little about the inconvenience they cause to other people have no right to damage the health of others, or to impose an intolerable degree of inconvenience on others," he said. "

The problem was public spaces are a huge sphere, but there was no onus on the person incharge of the public place to implement the law," said Siyaram Singh, former Health Secretary of Jharkhand. He hoped that the people would abide by the law and refrain from burning their lungs as well as creating inconvenience to others.