City sustained free of hookah bars by applying different acts and continued monitoring by law enforcers
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M.P. Voluntary Health Association, India
Publication date: 2018-03-01
Tob. Induc. Dis. 2018;16(Suppl 1):A179
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KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Background and challenges to implementation:
GYTS 2009
says around 14.6 % (19% boys and 8.3% girls) use tobacco products in India. In
last 4-5 years more than 40 Hookah bars
cropped-up and attracted adolescent and youths violating the norms in Indore city of India, which has students from
different parts of the country.
Hookahs
are water pipes that are use to smoke tobacco by groups, poses serious health
risks to smokers and others exposed to the smoke. In order to protect
adolescents and youths serious intervention were needed to make city free from
Hookah bars.
Intervention or response:
Madhya
Pradesh Voluntary Health Association submitted evidences to District Magistrate cum Chairperson Tobacco
Control Committee, orientation of Law enforcers done, directives issued,
enforcement squad formed, warning announcement made and monitoring
started.
Part success achieved, fine
imposed but hookah bars continued their services violating the norms.
Administration reviewed and decided to combine other strong acts with Indian
Tobacco Control Act to completely close the hookah bars.
Administration
passed order under section 144 of CRPC-public nuisance act section 268, 278 of
Indian Penal Code 1860 with strict
implementation of Indian Tobacco Control Act. Hookah bar operators were
informed that further violation will debar them from their district for a definite period and license of
their eateries and restaurants will be cancelled. Honorable High Court, reference W.P.No-8740/2015, also made decision in favor of District Magistrate.
Results and lessons learnt:
All hookah
bars in city completely closed and have stopped illegal practices. Innocent
customer, adolescents, youths are
protected now. Every single Act has some grey areas. Violators take advantages
of that.
Conclusions and key recommendations:
Planned
approach, strong administrative will, combination of different acts with
enforcement, systematic monitoring with support of social advocates are always
helpful in sustaining the process.