Tobacco Control Initiatives || Workshop on Elimination of Designated Smoking Area / Room by MACT

Chennai, March 4th, 2021: MACT (Mary Anne Charity Trust)is a non-governmental service organization, with a vision to serve the poor and vulnerable through various activities. MACT sensitizes and mobilizes the communities on tobacco control initiatives at the state and national level. MACT has constantly been advocating and lobbying with both the state and the central government and has brought upon positive changes in policy level. MACT’s tobacco control initiatives have extended through its network members and like-minded organizations including the World Health Organization (WHO).

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MACT along with State Tobacco Control Cell (STCC), Directorate of Public Health and Preventive medicine is Conducting a one day Consultation to strengthen the Enforcement & Specification of COTPA Section 4 & Elimination of G.S.R.417(E) on Designated Smoking Area / Designated Smoking Room. The key objective of the Consultation is to receive inputs & Recommendations from the Enforcement officials for Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 Section 4 violations & to strengthen the G.S.R 417 E for DSR/ DSA.

Significantly, the consultation is fixed to discuss the challenges during the various COTPA violations especially Section 4 – Prohibition of smoking in public place. Enforcement Officials from various departments like Railways, Postal & Library Department, Health & Education Department, Police Department, Authorities from Airport has been invited as participants for this consultation. 

A One day workshop on Consultation on "Elimination of DSA/DSR” was organised by MACT on 04 March, 2021 at  Pine Hall, Hotel Savera, Chennai

The programmed was started with Welcome address by Mr. S.Cyril Alexander, Executive Director, MACT

Inaugural address by Dr. Jerard Maria Selvam, Joint Director, STCC DPH; Thiru. Rajasekar, Registrar - Madras High Court; Dr. Hemanth Raj, Vice Chairman, Cancer Institute (WIA); Dr. M.S.Chandragupta, Chief Dental Surgeon.

Panel discussions on the following topics were also organised with eminent experts

Public Health Challenges and International Experience

• Mr. Pranay Lal, Senior Technical Advisor, The Union

Legal Compliance on DSA/DSR

• Dr. Amit Yadav, Technical Advisor, The Union

Enforcement & Challenges on Section 4 Compliance

• Dr. Jerard Maria Selvam, Joint Director, STCC DPH

Experience Sharing

• Mr. Perumal, State Tobacco Control Cell

Group Discussion & Recommendations

• Mr. Cyril Alexander, Director, MACT &
• Dr. V. Surendran, Associate Professor, Department of Psycho-oncology, Cancer Institute (WIA)

Finally Vote of Thanks by Mrs. Prema, Project Manager, MACT followed by Lunch.

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