Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP) 

Udupi, Jul 10: Deputy commissioner (DC) of the district, Hephsiba Rani Korlapati, advised the government departments not to involve in any way with firms indulging in production and sale of tobacco products. She also said that it would be improper to participate in programmes and functions in which such companies are partners, and asked the government departments not to receive any grants, donations, or equipment from such concerns. She warned that not abiding with these norms will be clear violation of tobacco policy and rules framed by World Health Organization. 

She was speaking after presiding over the quarterly meeting of the district tobacco control unit and district level anti-tobacco cell which was held at the office of the deputy commissioner here on Tuesday July 9. 

District surveillance officer, Dr Vasudev, stated that the task of creating awareness against tobacco use with prime focus on high school and PU students has been attended every year and an anti tobacco committee has been formed for the specific purpose of alerting students about dangers of tobacco use.  He said that boards announcing Kaup and Malpe beaches as no smoking zones have been displayed and awareness programmes have been organized on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day and the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) squad of the district has registered 426 cases of violations of the act between April and June this year and collected fine of Rs 45,550. 

Assistant superintendent of police, Kumar Chandra, municipal commissioner, Annand Kallolikar, district health officer, Dr M G Ram, district surgeon, Dr Madhusudan, district AIDS control officer, Dr Chidananda Sanju and officials of different departments were present.