To promote smoke-free environment, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will put signages and set up a helpline number in the metropolis.
To promote smoke-free environment, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)
will put signages and set up a helpline number in the metropolis, a top civic official said. "The signages will be put at all restaurants and bars across the city. Also, a helpline number will brought in place to answer the queries of people," Public Health Officer Jairaj Thanekar told PTI here.
"All these things are necessary and important and are likely to come within a month. It is the ethical responsibility of the BMC and we will lend our support for such initiatives," Thanekar said. The 'Smoke-free' campaign undertaken by NGO's like Action Council against Tobacco-India (ACT), Salaam Bombay Foundation, leading tobacco control organisation - Healis Sekhsaria Institute, BMC and the Association of Hotels and
Restaurants (AHAR) in Mumbai.
"BMC will carry out the implementation part, planning is jointly done by all of us. As far as funds are concerned we are getting it from private and international funding agencies," Surendra Shastri, Professor and Head of Department of Preventive Oncology, Tata Memorial Centre said.
The 'No smoking' signages are not as per the size and colour specified by the law.
"As per the law the signages should be at the entrance of the restaurant, the size of the signages should be 30 X 60 inches and should be written as 'Smoking is banned in this
restaurant and in case of violation please contact the manager'," Shastri said.
"It is also observed that large percentage of restaurants all over the city do not keep ash-trays on tables any more, this is very encouraging," he said. Shastri also said, within three months lot of things will be new and creative things will be done to spread the
message including 'No Smoking' messages will also come on buses and bus stops, Ad's will come on MTV and FM channel and there will be hoardings also at some places.
"On buses and bus stop the messages will be creative like, a bus conductor would say - 'I will not allow smokers in the bus' and restaurant owner would say - 'My restaurant is
smoke-free, how about you'," Shastri said. As far as the advertisements on MTV and FM channel is concerned, they will come during break and will try to inform and educate the viewers and listeners about the law, Shastri said.
The messages on buses and bus stops will be displayed from May 28, he added. The campaigners also urge that they do not want smoking in films, and no surrogate advertisements will be allowed, and that the law should be implemented properly.
Shastri also pointed out that, air quality is worse in Hookah bars and country liquor joints, where smoking is permitted.
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