PANJIM: The State government has warned of taking penal action against any person found taking cigarettes or any kind of tobacco products in the premises of government offices.
The Public Health Department (PHD) has directed to all heads of the department to enforce the order and submit a compliance report to the director of Health Services by June 30, 2019.
“In the interest of public health and to keep the government buildings clean, thus contributing towards the ‘Swachh Bharat Swasth Bharat’ campaign the Public Health Department has declared the premises of all the government offices and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) as ‘Tobacco Free Zone’,” the order states.
The health department has informed that the harmful effects of tobacco use are well established and accepted globally. The use of tobacco is a prominent risk factor for 6 to 8 leading causes of death and almost 40 percent of the Non Communicable Diseases (NCD) including cancers, cardio-vascular disease and lung disorders are attributable to tobacco use. The number of deaths in India due to tobacco use is almost 8-9 lakh every year.
The Union health ministry had last year directed all states to make government buildings and offices ‘Tobacco Free’ in order to protect public health. The union health secretary had also written to all state chief secretaries and secretaries of all government departments that the ministry is ready to extend any technical support if required for the initiative.
