Tobacco-free Goa initiative struggles as illegal sales continue unchecked

Joao Sousa M

Margao: Despite efforts to make Goa tobacco-free, gutka and other tobacco products remain widely available, including to minors, due to a lack of enforcement and monitoring.

The state government had proposed declaring villages and urban areas tobacco-free, but the initiative has received a lukewarm response.

Information obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, reveals that only 10 out of 30 villages in Salcete have declared themselves tobacco-free. These include Ambelim, Sarzora, Assolna, Carmona, Raia, Nuvem, Velim, Aquem

Baixo, Rumdamol-Davorlim, and Telaulim, most of which are smaller panchayats.

A ground-level investigation by ‘The Navhind Times’ found that tobacco products continue to be sold within 100 metres of educational institutions, with minors—especially from the unorganised sector—having easy access. Additionally, many educational institutions have failed to comply with the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), as they have not installed mandatory signage declaring their premises “tobacco-free” or appointed monitors for enforcement.

A senior official from the Education Department, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that while regulations exist, enforcement remains poor.

“Parent-teacher associations need to be more proactive in ensuring that tobacco products are not sold near schools, while educational institutions should work with law enforcement to implement the law,” the official said.

A parent, Zinha Fernandes, said that schools are required to have committees to monitor tobacco sales near their premises, but these remain ineffective.

”Due to this collective failure, tobacco products have deeply penetrated the system,” she said.

A sample survey revealed that even villages that have declared themselves tobacco-free have yet to install awareness boards or take concrete steps to curb the sale of tobacco.

A resident of Assolna, C D’Silva, said that stronger monitoring is needed to ensure shopkeepers do not sell tobacco products to minors. “Without proper enforcement, achieving a truly tobacco-free village is a challenge,” he said.

Velim MLA Cruz Silva said that while the government has issued a memorandum urging villages to adopt the tobacco-free initiative, there has been no follow-up.

“Guidelines need to be established and enforced. Instead, tobacco sales have increased in villages,” he said.