Spitting on streets could cost people dear as the Maharashtra cabinet approved an innovative anti-spitting law that combines monetary punishment with mandatory community service.
The first time a citizen is caught spitting, he or she will have to shell out Rs.1,000 as fine and take a day out to do social work at a public hospital or a government office. Second time offenders will have to pay Rs.3,000 plus three-day community service, and repeat offenders Rs.5,000 plus five-day service, respectively . The amount collected in fines will be used only for healthcare services.
Health Minister Dr Sawant, who has been working on the draft for months, said the law will be in place within the next six months.The anti-spitting bill will now have to cleared in both the state legislature houses. “The offender should do community service in a government hospital or office, like take on sweeping for a day or more. Designated officers will be appointed in every establishment,“ added Dr Sawant.
The law is likely to act as a precursor to banning chewing tobacco in public. People who chew tobacco cannot avoid spitting because tobacco stimulates the salivary glands to produce more saliva.
A four-minister committee has been set up to work out the bill's modalities.
BMC had a bye-law on antispitting or littering in public places, but failed. Dr Sawant, though, assured that there would be no political intervention with the anti-spitting law.“The committee will suggest who will be the implementing authority at various places and how to collect the fines. For instance, in Mumbai city , BMC commissioner will be the in-charge, but traffic police or police could be authorized to collect fine on the roads,“ the health minister added. The government plans to develop a software to track offenders and use the CCTV network to look for offenders.
The first time a citizen is caught spitting, he or she will have to shell out Rs.1,000 as fine and take a day out to do social work at a public hospital or a government office. Second time offenders will have to pay Rs.3,000 plus three-day community service, and repeat offenders Rs.5,000 plus five-day service, respectively . The amount collected in fines will be used only for healthcare services.
Health Minister Dr Sawant, who has been working on the draft for months, said the law will be in place within the next six months.The anti-spitting bill will now have to cleared in both the state legislature houses. “The offender should do community service in a government hospital or office, like take on sweeping for a day or more. Designated officers will be appointed in every establishment,“ added Dr Sawant.
The law is likely to act as a precursor to banning chewing tobacco in public. People who chew tobacco cannot avoid spitting because tobacco stimulates the salivary glands to produce more saliva.
A four-minister committee has been set up to work out the bill's modalities.
BMC had a bye-law on antispitting or littering in public places, but failed. Dr Sawant, though, assured that there would be no political intervention with the anti-spitting law.“The committee will suggest who will be the implementing authority at various places and how to collect the fines. For instance, in Mumbai city , BMC commissioner will be the in-charge, but traffic police or police could be authorized to collect fine on the roads,“ the health minister added. The government plans to develop a software to track offenders and use the CCTV network to look for offenders.
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