Of the schools surveyed, 90% of them had at least one shop or vendor selling tobacco within the 100 yards of the school.
A survey conducted by the Salaam Bombay Foundation (SBF) found a gross negligence by the state government in implementing the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COPTA), 2003, near educational premises. The NGO, with the help of students, had surveyed around 40 schools to study the tactics of tobacco promotion by the vendors.
Of the schools surveyed, 90% of them had at least one shop or vendor selling tobacco within the 100 yards of the school. In one of the schools, the children involved in the survey observed nine shops selling tobacco products near their school. Only 4% of shops have health warnings that meet COTPA requirements.
Tshering Bhutia, general manager, tobacco control, SBF, said, "These tobacco shops post ads below the shop counter. Adults generally do not look there, however, children do. This is a clear violation of COTPA, section 5. These industries target children as once they are hooked on to this at a young age, they will never leave this habit."
They also observed, on an average, shopkeepers displayed two advertisements at these shops. With the help of point of sale (POS) advertising, these shop vendors are aiming to market the product to the youngsters. These visual advertisements and promotions ropes children in resulting in children using tobacco products at a very young age.
In India, the usage of tobacco products by children is a big epidemic. Tobacco companies use different methods to promote their product such as advertisements and sponsorship to target children where they spend most of their time, which is around their schools.
"There are cigarettes of different flavours available in the market to entice children. These are the things that lure children and make them try such tobacco products. This type of marketing is prevalent in urban areas. In rural areas, they are less aware of the consequences and the contents of the products they consume," said Bhutia.
As per COTPA, section 5, it prohibits any kind of advertisement, brand promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products. There is ban on both direct and indirect advertisement of tobacco products in all forms of audio, visual and print mediums.
Ambuj Mishra, a college student involved with this programme, said, "A shop next to my college has shelves and refrigerators decorated with different coloured lights to lure children. It makes children wonder whether they should try tobacco products like paan and cigarettes. When something is visually appealing, people are immediately attracted to it, in this case they are applying this tactic to attract children's attention."
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "tobacco")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}