“National Online Consultation on implementation of 100% smoke-free public places by removing the DSA/DSR| 29th July 2023”

National Online Consultation on implementation of 100% smoke-free public places by removing the DSA/DSR

by

National Law University Odisha

On July 29, 2023 (Saturday) from 05:30 pm to 07:00pm

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National Law University of Odisha as a part of its Project on Tobacco Control Initiatives organised an online national consultation to receive expert opinion for advancing effective tobacco control in India. The title of the consultation was ‘on?/span>Implementation of 100% smoke-free public places by removing the DSA/DSR’ on July29, 2023 (Saturday) from 05:30 pm to 07:00pm.

The consultation session aims was to?provide an overview of the impact of passive smoking on individuals, challenges in implementing 100% smoke-free public places by removing DSA/DSR, discussion on exiting national policy/plan/law which support and advocate for smoke-free public places and case studies of countries with effective policies on smoke-free public places. The session acquainted all the relevant stakeholders of the urgent need to implement 100% smoke-free public places.

The National online consultation brought together about 71 participants, representing various departments such as dignitaries from Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Ministry of Law and Justice, Ministry of Human Resources Development, police academy, various commissions, law practitioner from supreme court of India, State Nodal Officers Tobacco Control, The Union and various NGOs. The Consultation aim was to sensitise identified national and state stakeholders, including senior government officials, enforcement agencies, hotels association and national experts, on implementation of 100% smoke-free public places by removing the DSA/DSR.

The resource persons for the program included Mr. Ashish Kumar Pandey, deputy director, tobacco control department, The Union, New York, Shri Ranjit Singh, Advocate Supreme Court and Mr. Deepak Mishra, Executive Director, SEEDS, Delhi. The consultation was started with project introduction followed by brief introduction about topic. In the first part of session tobacco law experts Shri Ranjit Singh oriented the audience on need of 100% smoke free public places and how removing of DSA/DSR is related to basic rights of individual, he also addressed the audience on negative impact of second and third hand smoking. After the introductory session on consultation topic Shri Ranjit Singh moderated Panel discussion on Implementing 100% smoke free public places by removing DSA/DSR. Mr. Ashish Kumar Pandey and Mr. Deepak Mishra discussed various aspect of topic in detail. Followed by panel discussion platform was set for open discussion which generated detailed discussion on various aspect related to topic.

Stronger policy formulation and effective law enforcement can play a crucial role in reducing tobacco consumption and improving public health outcomes. Overall, the online national consultation on?implementation of 100% smoke-free public places by removing the DSA/DSR’ was a positive step towards addressing this critical public health issue and promoting effective policy and enforcement measures to reduce tobacco use.

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