The India Post, Chandigarh, October 1, 2008:For the better implementation and enforcement of the Smoke Free guidelines in the City, UT Home Secretary, Mr. Ram Niwas today, launched the SMOKE FREE WEBSITE at UT Secretariat, Sector 9. The Smoke Free Website, the first of its kind in India is available at http://chandigarh.tobaccofreeindia.com.Mr. Niwas on the occasion said that the regular review meetings will be held for mobilizing the smoke free initiatives in the city. He also revealed that efforts are made by other cities in the country to adopt this initiative of the Chandigarh Administration. The Administration would take all necessary steps to sustain this position, he added.
Since new rules on smoke-free would be coming from October 2 the website is launched today. The website contains all the guidelines which are to be followed by Tobacco Shops and Dealers, Educational Institutes, Private Offices, Public Offices, Hotels & Restaurants and public. The Website will aware the masses of their rights and any violation could be reported through this website. This would empower enforcement agencies to take cognizance of smoking in public.
The City Beautiful became the first Smoke Free city of India by the implementation of the Central Tobacco Control Act in Chandigarh with effect from July 15, 2007. With support of the UT Administration, active participation of Social Activists and the enthusiastic approach of the general public, Chandigarh has been able to sustain the smoke-free initiative. The city celebrated its first successful anniversary on July 15, 2008. Chandigarh is the first place where there is absolute compliance of smoke-free laws by all the educational institutes and all public offices display the non-smoking mandatory boards and signs.