Has the ban on public smoking worked in Chennai?

CHENNAI:  Every year, the World No Tobacco Day comes and goes with  no tangible improvement in the  statical profile of the public smokers. Though the  ban on public smoking came into effect on October 2, 2008 in India, the only positive difference it  seems to have made is the rise in the number of ‘No smoking’ sign boards, which have visibly gone up since then. But there is no dip in the number of people who continue to smoke in public.The fine of `200 for public smoking continues to remain a sham. Though on the rule book it is still applicable to all offenders who are found smoking in places like bus stands, train stations, near tea shops and in office buildings, Rajesh, a regular smoker, says, “I haven’t been fined yet, nor have I heard of anyone paying a fine.”Sale of tobacco has been banned within 100 meters of an educational institution, this has not been implemented either. For instance, in Taramani, there are numerous government institutes like Central Polytechnic and MGR Film Institute, besides private colleges like Indian Institute of Hotel Management. Tea shops and stores outside these colleges sell tobacco products, while at the same time flash the ‘No Smoking’ sign board. Kirthi (name changed), a resident of Anna Nagar, says, “When cigarettes are sold near schools, uncouth men blow smoke at the students passing by. The ban is enforced only when the schools are located in residential areas.” She also says that the shops outside courts also sell tobacco products.  Office buildings, which used to have designated smoking areas, have done away with them after the ban. Julius Jones, an employee of Ernst & Young, operating from TPL House, says, “If anyone wants to smoke, they should go outside the compound. There is no space allotted for smokers.”New pictorial warnings have been planned for the packaging of tobacco products. Set to come out in December 2011, the photos of diseased lungs and cancerous lesions on the mouth will adorn cigarette and chewing tobacco packs.  “I don’t think these pictures have any effect on seasoned smokers. It may stop kids from starting, but that’s about it,” says Pradeep, the owner of a tea shop in Purasaiwalkam. He does not allow anyone to smoke outside his shop, as he fears police action. The black and white pictures of tar encrusted lungs seen on cigarette packets have not affected sales in any way, say shopkeepers. Public smoking will stop only if there is stricter enforcement of a law which now exists just on paper.