Dr. P.C. Gupta, Director, Healis – Sekhsaria Institute for Public Health, Mumbai says, "When a celebrity smokes publicly or in a movie as a character, he/she not only violates the law but also influences the fans to start consuming tobacco. The research shows 52% children have their first puff of cigarette after watching a celebrity light up!"

Less than 3 months of the ban on smoking in public places, the FDA claims to have collected a fine of 5, 79,925 Rs till November 2008 from those found breaking the rule in Maharashtra, among the biggest collected from a state in the country.

The ban on smoking in public places was already in place since 2004 but it did not provide the expected results. The Central gov­ernment had reinforced the ban on smoking in public, which was imposed under the Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places Rules, 2008; the ban came into force from October 2. With the help of 250 FDA officials and support of police personnel, fines were successfully collected.

Mohan Patankar, Jt. Commissioner FDA, says, "This ban was long introduced in 2004 and we did our best to fine the offenders even then. The collections from 2004-2008 (July) amounted to 2, 55,000 Rs as against 5,79,925 Rs in just 4 months (Aug- Nov 08).Due to increased awareness and support from police personnel, we have noticed significant reduction in such instances. Easy availability of challans and receipts has also facilitated the process; it can be downloaded from the net for HR administrators and other competent authorities."

... contd.