BBMP’s new license rules on the sale of tobacco to be implemented starting May end.
Small scale vendors in the city are upset with the new license rules of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on the sale of tobacco. Ameena, a tobacco products vendor having a small stall outside Matteo Coffee Café said, “I got license from BBMP to sell tobacco related products around three to four years ago. I am yet to renew it now.”
However, she added that when the BBMP’s new license rules are implemented, she might have to move her shop as it is situated within 100 yards of a public place – any place that the public has access to including hotels, educational institutions, hospital buildings, etc.
As per a report by Deccan Herald, in 2022Karnataka government notified the final draft bylaws of Karnataka Municipalities (Regulation and inspection of places used for sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products) Rules. BBMP will start implementing these rules starting May-end.
Dr A S Balasundar, Chief Health Officer, Public Health in BBMP said, “The government of Karnataka has given direct notification saying anybody selling tobacco should have a license to sell it from BBMP. The person has to apply through Form 1 to get the license for five years with a fee of Rs. 500. After this the vendor will receive the certificate to sell tobacco in their shop or stall.”
However, these rules come with conditions of Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) (Amendment) Bill 2015. Balasundar said, “The vendors will have to abide by the rules of COTPA Act and any violation of these rules would lead to shutting their shops and paying fine.”
To reduce the instances of the violation of COTPA Act, BBMP has planned to take the declaration from the tobacco vendors for abiding by the rules. “If the vendor himself violates the rules, we will close his shop. This will help in ensuring that the vendors are alert and are following the guidelines,” Balasundar added.
He added that there are some people who sell cigarettes on bicycles and the BBMP is trying to catch them.
Noor Ahmed Laskar, a tobacco products vendor near M. G. Road Metro Station said that he has been running the shop since four to five years and has been having significant profit. However, he was not comfortable talking about having license and the repercussions of moving to a different place. Ameena added, “I make a profit of around Rs. 2500 to Rs. 3000 per day, moving from this spot would definitely reduce my sales and eventually will affect the profit.”
Vijay Kumar Shrotryia, Senior Professor, faculty of Commerce and Business Studies at University of Delhi said, “This is a good move by the government to reduce the consumption of tobacco. However, it will definitely impact the small-scale vendors who primarily have been in this business.”
He added that the government can help such vendors to get into another business of selling chocolates, books, or other products. The government can also provide them the initial funding to help their business.
