Hyderabad: Supporting the nation-wide ban on smoking in public places, speakers at a event favoured creating smoke-free workplaces.

At a round table consultation on Smoke Free Public, Workplaces in India: The Trade Union and Industry Perspective", Rajya Sabha Member and INTUC President G Sanjeeva Reddy underlined the need for creating smoke-free zones at factories considering the health of workers.

He said he would work towards launching a nation-wide campaign on creating awareness on successful implementation of the ban.

"The smoking ban will be successful if awareness is created among the smokers to stop smoking at public places and also at workplaces," Reddy said.

Federation of AP Chambers of Commerce and Industry President S P Agarwal also echoed similar opinion and said he would ask the industry leaders of the state to ensure on creating smoke-free zones at industry premises.

Quoting a recent survey conducted by Synovates Global Omnibus on residents of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata, Voluntary Organisation in Interest of Consumer Education (Voice) Executive Director Bejon Misra said there is a universal support for the new regulations prohibiting smoking inside all public places.

He said, 84 per cent of residents surveyed in these cities indicate they understand the serious health effects of secondhand smoke and 87 per cent believe all workers in the country should be protected from the exposure to secondhand smoke at workplaces.
Source : PTI