Now no-smoking zone even outside premises

Following the death of the former state home minister, RR Patil, who was suffering from oral cancer, the government has been taking various precautions and had also come up with a Government Resolution (GR) wherein educational institutes have to put up anti tobacco sale boards and also declare 'no smoking' within 100 metres of their premises.

Educational institutes in Thane have taken this in good regard and are adopting all the measures possible to make it a success. The new GR that was released last week says that, signboards, warning against smoking will have to be put up at the entrance of every floor and the elevator entrance in the premises of all institutions under the purview of the Higher Technical Education department of the state government, as per instructions issued by the department on June 24.

Besides no-smoking warnings, the notice boards must also display the contact details of the person from the institution to whom complaints can be made against the violation of the rule. The contact person's details include his/her name, designation and contact number. The notice boards must also mention that there is a fine of Rs200 for violating the instructions. Moreover, the board at the entrance of the institution must also mention the rule that no sale of cigarettes or tobacco is permitted within 100 metres of the premises of the college.

"We are yet to implement it completely, but it has been a smart move by the government as it will be useful for us to curb such instances even outside the gates of the institute. Even if we apply this rule within our college, the students smoke outside the college premises and this new GR gives us the permission to stop and fine them," said N Barse, professor at Bedekar college.