The Tobacco Control and Regulation Act 2011 will be implemented 7 August onwards.
This Act prohibits smoking and sale and distribution of tobacco-related products at public places and slaps a fine from Rs 100 to Rs 100,000 on the offenders. The 'public places' include the government bodies, offices, corporations, educational institutions, libraries, airports, public lavatories, cinema halls, cultural centres, hotels, restaurants and eateries, student hostels, stadiums, public transport vehicles and waiting stands.
The Legislature-Parliament had passed this Act on 11 April 11 and the President certified it on 29 April.
The Act also prohibits advertising tobacco products and sponsoring of programmes by tobacco companies in the media. If anyone is found to be issuing advertisements and broadcasting promotional messages in the media, the Act has provisions for imposing fine of up to Rs 100,000 for that offence.
According to statistics, 44 people die daily in the country due to diseases related to smoking and tobacco consumption. The government spends Rs 16 billion annually for treatment of patients suffering from these diseases. Cigarettes and tobacco products cannot be sold to people below 18 years of age and pregnant women.