Chandigarh, ---   A three day Smokefree workshop is being organised by The Union South-East Asia (The Union ) on implementation of Prohibition of smoking at public places under Cigarettes and  Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003 here at chandigarh. Ms. Vini Mahajan, Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Punjab inaugurated the workshop.

Speaking on the ocassion Mrs. Vini Mahajan emphasised on the importance to protect the general public from harmful effects of second-hand smoke. She stated that 12 districts of Punjab have already been declared Tobacco smoke-free and Government of Punjab is committed to enforce the law and make whole Punjab as a Tobacco Smoke-free state. She revealed that from Jan 2013 to August 2013, more than 17000 violators have been challaned under COTPA.

He said district Bathinda has been included this year under National Tobacco Control Programme( NTCP), while adding that NTCP is being rolled out to include more districts in the country in a phased manner during the XII Plan period.The delegates from 12 states which included state nodal officers, civil societies representatives, public health experts attended the workshop.