Ever since the government had introduced a ban on smoking in public, in October 2008, the state tobacco control cell has collected Rs 57.92 lakh in fines, data shows. This shows how implementation of this rule has not only forced the people to stop smoking at public places but also filled the state’s exchequer in the last six years. If reports are to be believed then the government is planning to make a 10-fold increase in the fine for smoking in public and also ban on the sale of loose cigarettes. If implemented, this will help greatly in making India tobacco free country. In the last six years, about 68,959 men and 126 women have been fined for smoking in public, the data shows. The concerned government agencies have reportedly conducted 1, 27,330 raids at public places and 2, 55,011 raids in public service vehicles and fined people. Experts, so far, are happy with the government’s seriousness towards making India tobacco free but stress on the need of more stringent actions against hookah bars, clubs, pubs and restaurants.

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