Ranchi: Tobacco products continue to be sold openly near schools, colleges and other educational institutes in the city despite a legal ban on sales within 100 metres of such premises, raising concerns over the enforcement of tobacco control laws.The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, prohibits the sale of tobacco products within the prescribed distance of educational institutes. Jharkhand strengthened these provisions through a 2021 amendment, which also raised the minimum age for purchasing tobacco products to 21 years. The amendment increased the fine for smoking in public places from Rs 200 to Rs 1,000.However, visits to several institutes on Monday found shops and kiosks selling tobacco products just a few metres from campus boundaries. Violations were reported near Ram Lakhan Singh Yadav College in Kokar, Balika Shiksha Bhawan Higher Secondary School and Ranchi Women’s College on Circular Road, among others.Although many institutes display signboards prohibiting tobacco sales, enforcement remains weak.Doranda College principal Dr Deepika Toppo recently wrote to the district administration seeking action against shops near the college. “Despite the ban and strict instructions from the college authority, they continued to sell such products, which may attract students and adversely affect their health,” she said.Following the complaint, the district tobacco control cell and police raided the shops and imposed fines.Ranchi district tobacco control cell officer Sushant Kumar said at least 30 shopkeepers had been fined for selling tobacco near educational institutes and for selling loose cigarettes.“Shopkeepers often sell tobacco products clandestinely while claiming to sell chocolates or other items. We are taking strict action to curb the menace,” Kumar said.
