War on shops selling Tobacco near schools

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Now that the schools are open, the Health Standing Committee of the City Corporation has some serious business in hand. The Committee has given shape to two squads led by two Health Officers who will crack the whip on those shops which dare to sell tobacco and ‘pan masala’ items near schools. Starting Thursday, the squads, accompanied by Health Inspectors, will start doing the rounds in the city, specially checking those shops which are near schools. The decision, taken at the last Health Committee meeting and followed by a government directive to local bodies to take steps to prevent the use of tobacco products among students, would be implemented  with all intensity. If tobacco products are found to be kept for sale, they will not just be confiscated, but the shops will face the ire of the Committee with regard to their functioning licence. Though it is a yearly act by the Corporation officials which loses its spirit midway, the Health officials say they mean to sustain the interest for a long time this year. "It has come to our notice that there are shops in huge numbers which sell tobacco products near schools. Not just that, we mean to check the shops which sell these items near religious centres too,’’ said S Pushpalatha, Health Standing Committee Chairperson.From Thursday, the two squads will have yet another duty. To inspect  hotels to ensure their cleanliness and see if they meet the required stipulations mooted by the Corporation Council with regard to the functioning of hotels with more than 20 seats. "Many hotels have been found to be lacking toilets, many have no disposal measures for garbage, some lack cleanliness and some have drinking water problems. The squad would watch their working and also check if they have the licence renewed,’’ said Pushpalatha. It is also in view of the monsoons that are here, bringing with them the fear of epidemics, that the Corporation has waken from inertia. In view of  fever spreading in many parts of the city, the squad would check whether the hotels serve good food made in clean surroundings and whether they serve it in clean utensils. It would also be checked whether hotel rooms or kitchens are water-logged.