RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT TOP PRIORITY PROCEEDINGS OF THE DISTRICT EDUCATIONAL OFFICER, GUNTUR Present: Smt P.Parvathi, M.A.,B.Ed..

Rc.No.9319/B5(D3)/2009 Dated 16-11-2009

Sub:- Education - Right To Information Act - Implementation of Provisions of CIGARETTES AND OTHER TOBACCO PRODUCTS ACT 2003 Certain information Called for Reg. Read: Lr.No.2/2009 dated 2-11-2009 of Dr. R.L.Prasad, Guntur ***** Attention of the Deputy Educational Officers/Mandal Educational Officers/Deputy Inspector of Schools(Urdu Ranges) in the district is invited to the reference read above, wherein the applicant seeking information about implementation of provisions of CIGARETTES AND OTHER TOBACCO PRODUCTS ACT 2003(COTP ACT 2003)under the control of schools/offices the following information: 1. As per the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, supply and Distribution) Act, 2003, Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Rules, 2004 & and Prohibition of smoking in Public Places rules 2008 and amendment to them made in 15-9-2009, every public office must display 60X30 cm boards containing the warning. No Smoking Area. Smoking here is an offence along with the name and phone number of the authority to whom violations of the section 4 of the COTP act are to be reported. Do schools, offices, buildings and premises of Secondary Education and under the control of Secondary Education in your District display such warning boards? 2. As per Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply of Distribution) Act, 2003 and Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products rules, 2004, sales of Tobacco product within the periphery of 100 yards to any educational institute or school is strictly prohibited. Do schools under the control of Secondary Education Department ensure that sales of Tobacco product are not being done with in 100 yards of the Schools? Do they display warning boards that state that sale of Tobacco product with in 100 yards of the school / education institute is prohibited? 3. Provide the name of the location where such warning boards as required under the cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Rules, 2004 are displayed in all the schools / offices / buildings / floors / premises which are under the control of Secondary Education or which report to your office? Please provide address of all such premises / buildings and the number of warning boards affixed in each school / office / premise / floor / building. Date on which such warning boards were first displayed. Cost incurred in displaying the warning boards. 4. What is the designation and the name of the person responsible / in-charge for

a) Ordering affixation of the warning boards against smoking in school / offices and warning boards against sale of Tobacco product with in 100 yards of schools under the control of the department. b) Executing the order to affix such warning boards. c) To be held responsible for not displaying the statutorily prescribed warning boards and for the purpose of the penal provision under Section 4 (Read with Rule3) of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, supply and Distribution ) Act, 2003.

5. Is schools / office and all other offices under the control of this office provide total smoke-free atmosphere and prohibit smoking in all parts of the building / premise. 6. Provide a list of all schools / offices / premises under the control of your office, which allow people to smoke within the building / premise and within the boundary wall of the premises. 7. Are there any departmental rules to prevent unjustified frequent breaks (for example : taking frequent 5-10 minutes break / absence from seat to smoke cigarette / bidi) from duty ? Provide extracts of the relevant rules and departmental rules in this regard. 8. Does your office / department organize workshops / seminars or intervention programs for students / employees who consume tobacco to held quit tobacco ? Is any kind of medical / psychiatric assistance made available to people addicted to tobacco in schools / office / department under your control ? 9. Provide records relating to available medical assistance to employees and the complete record of the workshops / seminar etc, conducted by or for employees / students of office / schools under your control. 10. How many people have been fined till date for smoking in any of the school / office premises under your control or reporting to your office ? Provide record for the year 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and till 30-10-2009. 11. In case any of the laws and / or rules related to tobacco control is not being followed in schools / office or offices operating under your control, please provide the name and designation of the highest executive office in the hierarchy who can be held responsible for such non-adherence of the laws / rules related to tobacco control legislation (s). 12. Kindly arrange to immediately provide the extracts, certified copies of documents required i.e., files / documents / memo / orders / reports etc (in soft copy / electronic form or hard copies, depending on the availability ) Therefore, all the above said Inspecting Officers are requested to furnish the above information in the reference of the Schools/Offices/premises/buildings under their control immediately directly to the applicant (as noted in the address entry) duly extending a copy(in soft copy)to this office without any delay. This shall be treated as most urgent as the matter relates to RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT . Receipt of these proceedings shall be acknowledged forthwith. District Educational Officer (FAC) Guntur To The Deputy Educational Officers/Mandal Educational Officers/Deputy Inspector of Schools(Urdu ranges) in the district Copy to Dr. R.L.Prasad, Executive Member, Samachara Hakku Udyama Vedika President, VISISHTA, a Catalyst, 4-19-91, 8th line, Vikas Nagar, GUNTUR 522006