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Cigarettes being sold at the Madras University premises despite a government ban on the sale of tobacco products within 100 meters of educational institutions. Photo: R Thiyagarajan

        Sale of cigarettes and tobacco products is a thriving business despite a ban on it near educational institutions in the city.

        Under the ban tobacco products cannot be sold or distributed within 100 meters from an educational institution.

        Separately, political parties and anti-tobacco activists have also turned up pressure for mandatory pictorial health warnings on tobacco products.

        Near Madras University on Kamarajar road, a number of tea shops lined up on the pavements sell tobacco products. Worse than this, tobacco products were even sold at a make shift shop located inside the premises of the University.

        Customers at this shop, who come for a puff, were found to be mostly students and professors.

        'Why should I not sell cigarettes here. No one had told me about the ban. I had been involved in this business for a long time.' This was the reply from a shopkeeper, who sells tobacco products, near the University, when asked if he knows of the ban.

        A professor of the University said, higher level officials should initiate action against the tobacco product sellers, keeping in mind the welfare of the student community.

        'I don't understand why the authorities just bring in laws, but fail to enforce it properly,' the professor said.

        Opposite to Loyola College, one of Chennai's top colleges, a kiosk sells cigarettes and other tobacco products.

        The scene was no different near many other institutes like, Presidency college on Kamarajar salai, New College at Royapettah and DG Vaishnav college at Arumbakkam, according to sources.

        State General Secretary of Students Federation of India, G Selva said, 'the laxity shown by the government officials in enforcing the provision for banning tobacco products near educational institutions only indicate that they were being corrupt.'

        He also said that there is a need to create awareness among the youngsters about the ill effects of using tobacco products to make them stay away from it.

        Speaking to News Today, Vice Chancellor of Madras University, S Rama-chandran said that if any shop is found selling tobacco products on the campus or near the institution it will be evicted immediately and appropriate action would be initiated against them.