City's cigarette vendors are a defiant lot when it comes following norms of not selling tobacco products closer to school and college areas.
After DNA unearthed the irregularities and found out that vendors had openly flouted norms which says tobacco-related products and pan masala sales are banned within the 100 yards of educational institutions which is in contravention of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA).
During the DNA check conducted in areas like Borivali, this correspondent found cigarettes and chewing tobacco were openly sold right in front and near Sheth Gopalji Hemraj High School and Junior College, Borivali (East), Liberty Garden Municipal School, Malad, T P Bhatia College of Science near Kandivali, Thakur College in Dahisar where loose cigarettes were being sold.
According to a shop owner, who refused to be named, said that the exercise is a routine one in the area. When quizzed about the rules under COPTA regulation, the shop owner replied in the negative. During the check conducted across six areas, the blatant violation seemed to be the order of the day. As per the rules, if anyone was found selling tobacco near education institution a penalty of Rs 200 under section 24 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003. The Act prohibits the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products within 100 yards (91.44 metres) of an educational institute.
Raids Or No Raids, Business Goes On
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| The Act bans sale of tobacco products within 100 yards of educational institute |
- In a joint raid by carried out by the Mumbai Police’s Crime Branch and Food and Drug Authority of India on September 19, officials had seized gutkha and foreign cigarettes in Mumbai’s western suburbs.
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- FDA officials seized Rs 62.30 lakh in its Kashimira raid. According to a senior FDA official, more than 24 raids have been carried out in Mira-Bhayandar, where the handlers with huge cache managed to sneak in and further sell gutkhas.
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After completing the checks near schools and colleges, DNA team then headed to check how small groceries and provisional stores are actively involved in selling chewing tobacco. In Borivali, 11 shops out of 18 were found selling loose sachets of Goa and other tobacco sachets. These shops had also hoarded loose cigarettes which were sold for Rs 12 to Rs 18 per stick.
According to another grocer, if ban on the sale of gutkha was not adhered to by the pan shop owners then their vends were razed by the officials. "The problem lies in the system. There is no fear of law. People are openly selling banned tobacco products over here." he said.
When DNA spoke to scores of small-time grocers and shop owners selling biscuits, pastries, and other eateries about the ban on the sale of gutkha, scented supari and loose cigarettes, majority of them seemed to be unaware or perhaps ignorant about the prevailing law. DNA witnessed a similar scene in Malad, Andheri and Dahisar. Maharashtra is the first state to ban the sale of tobacco products with the sale of tobacco products by outlets that also stock Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), products to protect children from its use.
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