Speaking to one of the correspondents of a leading national daily, Mr. Ashim Sanyal, COO, Consumer VOICE, India revealed that COTPA (Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003) is openly violated near the school of south and East Delhi.
The field researchers of Consumer VOICE surveyed 30 schools in Delhi and found shops and kiosks selling tobacco products in the close vicinity of the school that is less than yards from the school.
“As our field research proved, there’s a deadly infiltration of tobacco products around schools despite laws banning the same. Children are being lured into trying out tobacco, which ultimately becomes a habit leading to deadly health consequences. We urge the Delhi government to ensure there are no kiosks or shops near schools and that they should be removed from the 100-yard vicinity of schools to help curb tobacco menace to save innocent children. Tobacco is openly available near educational institutions despite a ban on its sale within 100 yards of a school campus,” said Ashim Sanyal, the chief operating officer of Consumer Voice.