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Last Updated: Oct 17th, 2007 - 10:10:23 |
Central varsity stubs out smoking
Oct 17, 2007, 10:05
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HYDERABAD: Smokers beware, the University of Hyderabad (HCU) is now a 'no-smoking zone'. The central university has decided to implement the University Grants Commission (UGC) diktat which bans sale of tobacco and its related products within hundred yards of an educational institution. And going one step further, the HCU administration has taken up an anti-smoking campaign for the benefit of students. As campus elections are approaching, the various student outfits want to kick up a row over the smoking ban and make maximum mileage out of it. They feel that a debate on the issue at the general body meeting may fetch them rich dividends in the form of votes. While there were four outlets which used to sell tobacco products on the campus, with the implementation of the rule they had to shut shop. The UGC in a circular had ordered educational institutions to follow the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003, which prohibits the sale of tobacco products within hundred yards of any educational institution. "We wanted the student community to know that the ban is not a punishment, but a part of a wider campaign against the use of tobacco. So, we are encouraging any kind of campaign against tobacco from any interested party," HCU dean, students welfare, G Umamaheshwar Rao told 'TOI' on Tuesday. Already, the university has witnessed two poster campaigns— one done by a group of concerned students and the other by officials—against the use of tobacco products. At various schools, there would be a demonstration of various slides of the campus. "If taken as a decision based on health concern, it is a welcome move. But the rule does not take into consideration the free will of the student who wishes to be a smoker or otherwise and it does not in anyway assure the students who are smokers to quit," former HCU general secretary Mohammed Zikrulla Khan said. However, there are some voices of dissent from the students against the ban. "Sometimes all this looks meaningless. If we want, we could always get tobacco products from outside and abuse them. There is a paan shop right outside the gate where we could get them. But it does make it a little bit difficult," fine arts department student Bhagath Singh said. The HCU officials said the concept of a non-smoking campus would be inculcated among students as there was no opposition against the ban. The erstwhile paan shop owners have applied for setting up other businesses on the campus.
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