Zee Media Bureau/Shruti Saxena
New Delhi: Well, smoking may appear to be a pleasurable pursuit, but doing it publicly could now invite you to pay a hefty fine of Rs 20,000 as per a committee set up by the Union Health Ministry.
The Indian government had banned smoking in public places six years ago although violations have been numerous in the country.
The government is also in favour of raising the age limit for tobacco consumption and ban on loose sale of cigarettes and bidis in the country in order to discourage the consumption of tobacco products.
According to the Cigarette and other Tobacco Product (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Supply and Distribution, COPTA) Act 2003, selling of tobacco and related products are banned within 100 meters of educational institutes, airports and to minors.
Approximately 5.5 million people die around the world every year - with India accounting for nearly a fifth of this.
