Gutkha, liquor shops thrive outside schools in Mumbai

Even though the state government has come out with the latest initiatives to prevent the availability of gutkha and tobacco near schools and colleges, cigarette sellers and liquor stores continue to thrive outside these institutions.

Principals say that neither imposing any fine nor registering police complaints have helped in curbing their menace.

Such shops continue to flourish outside prominent schools and colleges such as Ramnarain Ruia College in Dadar, Mithibai College and Narsee Monjee College in Vile Parle, St Andrews School and College in Bandra, IES Manik Vidya Mandir in Bandra among others.

Though these institutions have registered formal complaints with the police to move such shops away, the police are yet to take any action.

“We have repeatedly filed complaints against the shop right outside our school that sells tobacco. But the police did not take any action. We are afraid such a shop will tempt students to take up smoking or tobacco chewing,” said Shubhda Vinekar, principal, IES Manik Vidya Mandir.

Many schools in the city also have full-fledged bar or liquor shops at a distance of less than 100 metres, though the law stipulates that alcohol can be served or sold beyond 200 metres of schools.

The New Naigaon Municipal School in Dadar (East),
is a case in point, which has a liquor shop, cigarette shop and a restaurant-cum-bar within 50 metres of the school.

Complaints filed to the municipal authorities by the school have all fallen on deaf ears. “The bar and liquor store came before the school was established and hence we cannot take action against them,” said Rukmani Kharatmol, chairman of the BMC education committee.

Further, though laws such as the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 (Copta) ban sale and advertisement of tobacco and related products within 100 metres of educational institutes and airports, proper implementation is missing.

Though the government recently allowed principals to fine those found violating the law up to Rs300, it has not helped curb the nuisance.

“They pay us fine, but continue to run the shop. The government should give us authority to confiscate their licence,” said Marie
Fernandes, principal of St Andrews College.