Flying squads with police, health worker to check tobacco use

The government of Gujarat will put five vans on road with flying squads to check proper implementation of government law that bans consumption and selling of tobacco and tobacco products at public places, Gujarat Health Minister Shri Jaynarayan Vyas said.

“On 31st May we will launch flying squads with their vans. Each wan will have presence of one Police Sub Inspector and health worker,” Vyas further said.

Vyas added that while primary motive of squads will be to create awareness about health hazards due to tobacco consumption, the squad will also take action against those violating the law that bans consumption of tobacco and tobacco products at public places, and selling of same within prescribed distance of schools/colleges.

It should be mentioned that consumption of tobacco product is banned at public places and selling of it is banned within 100 yard area of school/college.

According to Vyas 29% boys and 4% girls in Gujarat’s schools consume tobacco products in Gujarat as per one data. The government has allocated Rs. 3 crore for campaign against tobacco and tobacco products in Gujarat, Vyas said. He said quoting data that tobacco consumption in Gujarat has lowered down by 200 per cent in last four years.