News Desk AnyTV, New Delhi
Published by: Shiv Sharan Shukla
Updated Wed, 09 Mar 2022 10:53 PM IST
Summary
Doctors and cancer victims have urged the central government to remove smoking rooms from hotels, restaurants and airports. Currently, under COTPA 2003, smoking is permitted in public places such as restaurants, hotels and airports.
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Appreciating the Center for initiating the process of amending COTPA 2003, doctors, cancer victims and hoteliers appealed for immediate removal of an existing provision to make India 100% smoke-free and reduce the spread of COVID-19. .
Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, Head Neck Cancer Surgeon, Tata Memorial Hospital said that it is clear that smoking increases the risk of corona. Smoking damages the lungs and lowers the immunity of the body. If smokers get a covid infection, the risk of complications increases. Dr. Pankaj Chaturvedi informed that to avoid all these dangers, smoking areas in hotels and restaurants and even at airports should be eliminated to ensure 100% smoke free environment.
Smoking in all public places is prohibited in India under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, COTPA 2003. Under section 4 of this Act, smoking is prohibited in any place where the public can come. However, currently, under COTPA 2003, smoking is permitted in certain public places such as restaurants, hotels and airports.
Health activist Nalini Satyanarayana said that all places should be completely smoke-free in the best interest of public health. He said that second hand smoking is as harmful as smoking. Exposure to secondhand smoke causes a number of diseases, including lung cancer and heart disease in adults and decreased lung function and respiratory infections in children. He further said that eating places, especially hotels and restaurants, bars, pubs and clubs, etc. have to inhale the smoke of others and this puts the lives of thousands of people who do not smoke. COTPA needs to be amended to not allow smoking in any premises.
It is worth noting that the Government of India has started the process of amendment in COTPA-2003. The government has introduced the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Amendment Bill 2020. A recent survey conducted in India revealed that 72% of people believe secondhand smoke is a serious health hazard and 88% strongly support the strengthening of existing tobacco control laws to tackle the problem. Can you