New Delhi, Jun 25 (PTI) A group of AAP legislators hit the road to create awareness against smoking and chewing of tobacco as part of a tobacco control initiative in the national capital today.

The event, jointly organised by Sambandh Health Foundation, Max India Foundation and Delhi Police, was participated by MLAs Jarnail Singh, Rajesh Rishi, Mahendra Yadav and Jagdeep Singh.

Employing 'Gandhigiri', the legislators handed out roses to those found violating rules under the the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act or the COPTA.

The COTPA prohibits smoking in public places, direct or indirect advertising and promotion, sale to or by minors and sale within 100 yards of schools.

West Delhi Deputy Commissioner of Police Vijay Kumar said that more than 2,500 people were fined under the COTPA in the district in the past six months.

He also said that in the past year, Delhi Police challaned 40,000 violators under the COPTA.

CEO of Max India Foundation Mohini Daljeet Singh said, "As per the Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2016-17, more than 30 lakh people in Delhi use tobacco in form of smoking and chewing. More than 10,000 users die annually due to diseases attributed to tobacco, whereas 81 children initiate tobacco use in Delhi everyday."

Trustee of Sambandh Health Foundation Sanjay Singh lauded the participants of the campaign.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)