Declare polling stations in Jammu and Kashmir as smoking-free zones, says health association

Jammu and Kashmir Voluntary Health Association (JKVHA) has asked the state election authorities to declare all polling stations as 'smoking free zones' during the ongoing Assembly elections.

"JKVHA in a letter to the Chief Election Officer (CEO), has demanded that keeping in view the general health of the people, the polling booths need to be declared as 'smoke free zones'," the Association said in a statement.

During the Lok Sabha elections, Jammu and Kashmir became the first state in the country to have smoking-free polling booths after a similar request was made by the JKVHA. "The representation was made to the CEO keeping in view the dangers of passive smoking on voters," the statement said.