Anti-tobacco week in Pune goes up in smoke

In a move to send a strong message, the health department of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has issued show-cause notices to its five ward medical officers (WMOs) for inaction during the anti-tobacco week in January this year.

The WMOs are from the ward offices of Ghole Road, Kothrud, Ahmednagar Road, Kasba Vishrambaugwada and Dhankavdi.
The anti-tobacco week was held in collaboration with the district collectorate, food and drug administration (FDA) and the PMC.

The drive, which started on January 10, included officers from various departments fining people Rs100 if found smoking or chewing tobacco within the designated no-tobacco zones. Areas within 100 metres of schools, colleges, hospitals, courts and other public places are designated as no-tobacco zones and offenders can be fined.

The Warje-Karve Road ward office was by far the best performer, with Rs6,550 collected in fines. Bhawani Peth ward office (Rs2,950) came second, with a majority of the other wards trailing far behind. The five erring wards did not fine a single person during the week.

Taking serious view of this, the civic medical officer, Dr RR Pardeshi, early last week issued show cause notices to all the five WMOs. Although they were supposed to reply within two days, none has done it so far.

Pardeshi stated, “I have taken a very serious view of the issue.” Sources in the department said the increments of the erring WMOs could be stopped.