Tobacco kiosks sell products near educational institutions in Ludhiana, violations galore

Nikhil Bhardwaj

Ludhiana, July 20

Despite glaring violations, tobacco-cigarrete kiosks are operating with impunity in the vicinity of schools, colleges, university and other educational institutes in the industrial hub.

The 100-m rule of operating tobacco kiosks near educational institutions is being clearly ignored by owners of such vends. However, there are restrictions on opening liquor vends within the radius of 50 m in cities and 100 m in rural areas. Surprisingly, vends have not been opened within the 50-m radius in the city but there are some which are being run close to educational institutions and students are exposed to the same.

This correspondent with a lensman visited several city areas to dig deep into violations which are being ignored by the administration while keeping their eyes closed.

The extent of violation of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Amendment Act, 2022, can be gauged from the fact that a tobacco kiosk has been set up adjoining the wall of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) near Gate 3. The kiosk has given access to thousands of students of the university. Besides, three private education centres are operating opposite Gate 3 and the authorities are not bothered to ponder over the issue.

Then came a decorated liquor vend almost close to Aakash Institute, where hundreds of students daily turn up. The vend is two properties away from the institute in the same lane and boozelovers can be seen buying liquor openly in front of students. Not only this, sometimes drunkards also sip whisky in the daytime outside the vend but no action is being taken by the authorities concerned so far. Excise officials, however, said the vend was not opened within 50-m radius of the institute.

Another glaring violation was noticed on the Jassian road where a tobacco vend is being run within the radius of 100 m near Ranjit International School.

Even a liquor vend at the Jawala Singh chowk is set up near Terioat Public School, approximately 200 m away from the school. Drunkards here start drinking from the wee hours and sometimes they were also seen lying in front of the vend in an inebriated state. What impact students would have from such behaviour of drunkards. The authorities should pay attention to the matter.

Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawney told The Tribune here on Saturday that necessary instructions were already issued to the department concerned for the implementation of the rule. The administration would also conduct a check on the matter.

Senior executive, Aakash Institute, Harpreet, when asked if they have lodged a complaint against the liquor vend operating near their institute, said he was not aware of the same, senior officials of the institute might have information about it but they were not available now.

“Most liquor vends in the city have not been opened within the 50-m radius of schools or educational institutions. Distance is measured from gate to gate. Though such vends are not violating rules, they may be located close to the educational institutions, hence, as per law, action cannot be taken against them,”senior excise official said.

What the rule says

There is a ban on the sale of tobacco products within a 100-m radius of educational institutes under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Amendment Act, 2022. As per Section 6 of the Act, “No person shall sell, offer for sale or permit sale of, cigarette or any other tobacco product — to or by any person who is under 21 years of age and in an area within a radius of 100 m of any educational institution”. However, there are restrictions on opening liquor vends within the 50-m radius of educational institutions in cities and 100 m in rural areas, surprisingly, vends have not been opened within the 50-m radius in the city but there are vends which are opened within 100-m radius or more from institutions, giving exposure to students.