Jeypore, 30th Aug 2025: A poster has been put up in the Jeypore District Hospital premises warning that anyone chewing gutkha (tobacco mixture) or smoking in the hospital area will face a financial penalty. The hospital is being declared a gutkha-free zone, and security personnel along with CCTV cameras will monitor compliance.
The hospital campus includes a maternity and child care ward, and services are provided in a clean and hygienic environment. However, some visitors have been littering the area with tobacco and cigarette waste, which has prompted this strict action.
The posters remind people to avoid chewing gutkha and smoking, and warn that defaulters will have to pay a fine. Tobacco and pan (betel) chewing is prohibited in all areas of the hospital, and various “no smoking” and cleanliness boards have been installed across the campus.
The district hospital has been recognized at the state level for its cleanliness initiatives. Officials have stated that if anyone violates the rules in the future, a strict fine will be imposed, though the exact amount has not yet been specified. DM Dillip Bishwal confirmed that the hospital management will take all necessary steps to maintain clean and hygienic conditions for patients.