Smokers=Criminals?

By Jayakishore Bayadi

“This is my place.Who are you to ask me to don’t smoke here?”

A chain smoker tenant just beside my room replied without any hitch, when I requested him not smoke here instead go to terrace…

He never bothered. I requested him again. Complained to the owner. He warned him. But it didn’t work. Then I decided to change my room. Iam a happy man now. I can breath ‘polluted’ fresh air in my new home, at least not contaminated by Cigarette smoke!

I feel pity for such brats. They can’t handle stress without Cigarette. They can’t even shit without it. They are addicted to it. They already become a slave of a bad habit. They may feel they can conquer the world while smoking, but in real they can’t. They are the most stupid, low morale, not-so-confident individuals I believe.
I really feel sad that government is bringing a new law to contain smokers, as it does to curb criminals. That means, Smokers=Criminals! So sad my dear smokers… that include our so-called great celebrities as well!

PTI reports that the government is empowering school principals, postmen, railway stationmasters, even your boss to book you if you're caught smoking in a public place after Oct 2 - the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The health ministry has already sent the rule for gazette notification and will make it public in the second week of September.

'The government is yet to approve a fine of Rs.2,000 for those caught smoking in public,' said a senior health ministry official. 'So we are implementing the new Smoking in Public Places Rules 2008 with the old fine amount - up to Rs.200.'
The new rule will also expand the definition of public places from government buildings to include all office buildings, hospitals, schools, colleges, railway stations, airports, bus stands, hotels and restaurants.

'With the public notification, we will empower principals of schools, colleges, stationmasters, postman, airport authorities to challan (book) those smoking in public places. Once caught, the smoker will have to pay Rs.200 or whatever he has if he is carrying less than that amount,' the official told PTI. 'These people have better access to public places and their involvement will work as community participation to reduce smoking in the country.

'The public notification will empower top officials in private firms to challan their employees. The challan money will go to the revenue department of the state government concerned,' the official added. The modalities will be finalized before the public notification.

To start the process, the official said, in the last one week they fined eight employees of the Nirman Bhawan, the building that houses the health ministry, urban development ministry, and some other government offices.
Hundreds of thousands of people lose their lives due to smoking related diseases in India every year. They are at risk from all cardio-vascular diseases like heart attack and stroke and cancer.

When will these spoilt brats will learn? When death starts knocking his door?