Thiruvananthapuram: Prisons in Kerala have been made smoking-free zones in compliance of the Supreme Court order banning smoking in public places.
A circular in this regard has been issued by DGP (Prison) T P Senkumar, directing jail officials to enforce the ban within the prison compounds.
"Though smoking in public places is already banned by the Supreme Court, it has not been implemented strictly in many jails," DIG Prisons (North Zone) Sivadas K Thaiparambil said.
"It would take at least one month for all smokers (in prisons) to get rid of the habit and the side effects that could follow when some one gives up the habit abruptly," he said.
The circular also instructed that de-addiction treatment be provided to those who develop uneasiness due to the abrupt stopping of smoking, he said.
Steps would also be taken to create awareness about the dangers of smoking among the addicted inmates, he said adding that a total ban was expected to be achieved within a month.
Smoking ban in jails had been a long pending demand of anti-tobacco campaigners in the state.
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