'No sale of tobacco near edu institutions'

Kolkata: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation will urge the police to ensure that no tobacco is sold within 100 metres from the premises of educational institutions, Mayor Firhad Hakim said on Saturday.

Hakim said the law is not enough to deter smokers to give up smoking or consume fried tobacco. There should be more awareness in society and on social media against it.

The KMC has proposed to launch massive awareness campaigns and oral health check-ups in every ward. He felt that social media should be used to create awareness among people. "We get so many things on social media and the platform can be used to create awareness requesting the smokers to give up the deadly habit." He said everyone should take a pledge to help a smoker to give up cigarette.

"It is difficult to give up the habit of smoking but the smokers should be encouraged as it affects one's health badly," he maintained. It may be mentioned that the Barrackpore Commissionerate has stopped selling of tobacco within 100 metres of school premises. Though the law bans smoking in public places, few people follow it and there are no agencies to enforce the law.