Thiruvananthapuram: If the State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB) data on action taken under Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) are to be believed Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram rural police limits record the least number of cases under the Act.
Between January and October 2016, only 1,976 and 2,045 people were issued challans in the Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram rural limits respectively. This is almost one-tenth of many police districts.
The offences cover a wide range of misdeeds such as smoking in public, sale of banned tobacco products and sale of tobacco products close to educational institutions.
In comparison, Thiruva-nanthapuram city police has challaned over 9,000 persons in 10 months and added over '18 lakh to the state coffers.
The highest number of people to be challaned was at Ernakulam city (21,020), Kannur (15,876) and Palakkad (14,937).
“COTPA has been considered as the least offensive crime despite threatening life and well being of all stakeholders involved. Hence, the strong enforcement of COTPA was being overlooked,” an activist said.
Activists blame it on the lack of departmental coordination, COTPA cases. As per new amendments, apart from Health Department, Excise and Police register.
Though an original master plan envisages joint raids, they do not happen.
In other states, panchayat officials have been entrusted to conduct drives whereas in Kerala panchayat officials don’t act.
