Deputy Commissioner of Chamarajanagar Shreeroopa has directed officials to impose maximum penalty on shops selling tobacco products without obtaining the required licence.

Chairing a meeting of the District Co-ordination Committee of the National Tobacco Control Programme in Chamarajanagar on Monday, Ms. Shreeroopa asked the officials to instruct shops selling tobacco products to secure the necessary licence.

“Those selling tobacco products must possess a separate licence,” she said, while asking the officials to take action against sale of tobacco products in violation of rules.

Calling for the constitution of a Tobacco Control Committee in the district to conduct enforcement drives, the Deputy Commissioner said that shops found selling tobacco products without a licence during inspections should be imposed a heavy fine while strict instructions should be issued to obtain the necessary licence.

“The sale of tobacco products is not permitted within 100 metres of school and educational institution premises in urban and rural areas. Officials should check whether tobacco products are being sold in any shops in the restricted zone,” she said.

Block Education Officers should conduct raids from time to time and impose fines if violations are found and reports should be submitted to the District Tobacco Control Cell.

Ms. Shreeroopa also said special gram sabhas should be organised in the 68 villages selected by the Health Department through a survey for the tobacco-free village initiative. She directed officials to coordinate with the Health Department and strictly follow the criteria for the declaration of tobacco-free villages.

Additional Deputy Commissioner T. Javare Gowda, District Health and Family Welfare Officer S. Chidambara, Health Department’s Programme officers Chandrashekar and Sundaresh, taluk health officers and officials of various departments were present at the meeting.