Date:13/11/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/13/stories/2006111317070500.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Tobacco ban on campuses goes up in smoke, literally

R. Ravikanth Reddy

Varsities yet to enforce UGC directive strictly

OU to crack down on shops selling tobacco products

Central University says public smoking already banned

HYDERABAD: Selling of tobacco products on University campuses in the city continues unabated despite the University Grants Commission's (UGC) directive to all the educational institutions to ban their sale within 100 yards of the campus.

Officials seem to have completely ignored the directive, as they have not even circulated the message to the respective colleges under their jurisdiction, leave alone implementing it on the university campuses.

Whether it is Osmania University, University of Hyderabad, JNTU, students puff away to their hearts content, as cigarettes are easily available. Some members of the faculty also seem to be unmindful of the ruling .

On the Osmania campus, all brands of tobacco products are available. While smokers can be seen everywhere the presence of tobacco chewers reflect from the gutkha stains on the toilet walls. But OU Registrar M. Mutha Reddy claims that they have already banned use of tobacco.

"We have information that some spaces given on rent for photocopying and selling stationary are selling tobacco. We will stop it as per UGC directives," he says.

University of Hyderabad Registrar Y. Narsimhulu says public smoking is already banned on the campus as per Supreme Court judgement and is being strictly implemented. Regarding the sale, he says the University has received the UGC circular a few days ago and they would implement it soon. "In fact, the University has already started the process of compiling the list of shops that sell tobacco," an official said.

The JNTU authorities, however, are yet to receive the copy. Vice Chancellor K. Rajagopal says students actually don't get the time to smoke on the campus given the tight academic schedule but its sale would be contained at any cost on the campus as well as near the hostels. The effectiveness of ban is a question on the campuses? "We may not wean away students from smoking but we can prevent easy access by banning the sale", feels Prof. Rajagopal.

Students' reaction

Students have diverse opinions. "Students on the campus are mature enough to understand the implications of smoking and officials should leave the decision to them," argues B. Ramesh, a Philosophy student of Arts College.

Even student organisations welcome the UGC's directive. "It is our organisation's policy also and we will support any such move on the campus," says N. Narsi Reddy, president, Telugu Nadu Students Front (TNSF).