No tobacco shops near schools

The authorities in Srinagar have ordered shutting down of all shops selling cigarettes and tobacco products near schools and have declared schools of the district as no smoking zones.

The Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Baseer Ahmed Khan directed the Chief Education Officer, Srinagar to ensure that 'no-smoking' signs were put up at all schools, both Government and private, and tobacco vendors within a 100-yard radius were removed.

The order DCS/PS-Misc/11/3875-76 has made it clear that smoking is prohibited at public places under COTPA (Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act) Act, 2003. A copy of the order has also been sent to Divisional Commissioner Kashmir's office so that it is followed in letter and spirit and action is taken against the violators.

Through the order the DC Srinagar has further directed the Police and Drug and Food Control Organization to take action against shops selling tobacco and tobacco products within 100 yards of the educational institutions.

It would be in place to mention here that the district administration in collaboration with Police and Drug and Food Control Organization has been in the past taking action against the persons involved in sale of tobacco and tobacco products in the vicinity of public utilities including hospitals and schools.

As part of the anti-tobacco drive cigarette packs were seized by the administration last month and destroyed in presence of the responsible citizens of the Srinagar district. The administration has also penalized civilians including some Government officials for smoking at public places.

Budgam district in the Kashmir valley has already become the first 'Smoke Free' district of the state at public places. The formal announcement in this respect was made during the Republic Day function held recently at the Sports Stadium, Budgam.

Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara Mohammed Shafi has also of late taken some initiatives in the district by which it is expected that this district too would become 'Smoke Free' very soon. In this frontier district action has also been taken against the violators of law and they have been penalized for their act of smoking at public places.

Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir chapter of Voluntary Health Association of India (JKVHA) has welcomed the DC Srinagar order.

Ali Mohammad Mir, Executive Director, JKVHA conveyed his support to the order assuring that his organization and volunteers would assist the district administration in making the public places in Srinagar tobacco-free. Mir said that steps like these would help a lot in making Srinagar and subsequently the other places of the State as 'Smoke Free'.

He also conveyed his appreciation to Mohammad Azim Tuman, chairman House Boat Owners Association, who has volunteered to remove all ash trays from houseboats so that all the houseboats are declared smoking free zones.

Jammu observes total shutdown on Fdi

Demanding rollback of central government’s decision of allowing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in retail sector, traders and shopkeepers of entire Jammu city today observed near total shutdown on the call given by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) Jammu and supported by political and business organisations.

All the business establishments including shops and malls remained closed throughout the day as the traders’ fraternity protested against FDI in retail sector. They observed complete shut down in support of ‘Bharat Bandh’ call given by Confederation of All India Traders and Bharat Udyog Vyapar Mandal.

Protest demonstrations were also organized by various political organizations while Confederation of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) held a protest rally in the city. Huge deployment of police was made outside the newly opened ‘Best Price Shop’ (a Bharti-Walmart joint venture) to avoid any untoward incident.

All the main markets Kanak Mandi, Ware House, Hari Market, Pacca Danga, Raghunath Bazar, Gumat, Jain Bazar, Talab Tillo, Bakshi Nagar, Channi, New Plots, Gandhi Nagar, Trikuta Nagar while many other small markets in the entire city remained closed throughout the day.

Refuting the claims of central government of providing 40 lakh employment in the next three years Senior Vice president of CCI, Tara Chand Gupta asked, what about the four Crore people engaged in the retail chain of the country, who would be rendered jobless after the establishment of outlets of multinational companies?“Thousands of graduate and post-graduate degree holder youths have opened retail shops due to less job opportunities. After the opening of MNCs’ retail outlets, the unemployment problem would multiply and the government would have no alternative.

The entire Indian economy would collapse in the coming years if the central government did not roll back the decision of allowing 100 percent FDI in single brand retail and 51 percent equity in multi-brand retail sector,” he averred.

He said the track record of these MNCs showed that whenever and wherever FDI was allowed, it resulted in closure of local business houses by flooding the market with cheap foreign products. “We would continue our struggle and finalize further strategy after the meeting of all chamber members,” he added.

A protest rally was organized by Confederation of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) which commenced from Bikram Chowk. Carrying placards in their hands and amid raising of slogans hundreds of protesters, demanding rollback of FDI decision, marched towards City Chowk.

CITU state general secretary and MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami while addressing the protesters at City Chowk, termed the decision of Union government as anti-people which would render 4.4 Crore retailers of the country jobless. “FDI would snatch the livelihood of small retailers in the entire country including J&K where thousands of shopkeepers and retailers have opened shops as a means of livelihood due to lack of job opportunities,” he said.

Tarigami said that the decision of the centre would ruin the lives of millions of retailers and people engaged in the retail chain as well as the farmers due to the monopoly of MNCs on retail trade and lack of regulatory mechanism. Secretary Om Prakash, CPI (M) regional secretary Sham Prasad Kesar and Romesh Chand also addressed the rally.

Activists of Hindustan Shiv Sena (HSS) organized a protest demonstration at Hari Market. “The bandh is an eye-opener for those who are still sleeping over the issue. The protests will be intensified in the coming days if no final decision was taken by the government,” HSS national president Dimpy Kohli said.

Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha activists protested in front of the ‘Best Price Shop’ near Toph-bridge. Huge deployment of police force foiled their attempt to enter the premises of BPS. Amid chanting of slogans the protesters continued sloganeering for few minutes and left the venue. Bhartiya Janata Party activists also held a protest demonstration at Raghunath Market this morning against the decision of FDI in retail.

Complete shutdown was observed in Udhampur city while Kathua observed partial shutdown. In the other districts of Jammu region there was no impact of shutdown call given by Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In Udhampur town complete shutdown was observed over the call given by Udhampur Vayapar Mandal. All the business establishments remained closed throughout the day. The protesters assembled at Indira Chowk this morning and held protest demonstration against the decision of the centre under the chairmanship of Vayapar Mandal Pradhan. The shutdown call was also supported by Bhartiya Janta Party and Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party.

In Kathua, there was mixed response to the shutdown call. Few shops were closed in Kathua city while Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha activists held a protest demonstration against the government.As per the reports pouring from other district and tehsil headquarters there was no response to the shutdown call in Samba, R S Pura, Poonch, Rajouri, Doda and Bhaderwah areas.