India Infoline News Article

Support towards pictorial tobacco warnings gains momentum
India Infoline News Service / Mumbai Dec 12, 2007 16:13
Walkathon & activities held in Shimla, Chennai & Bangalore – other cities to follow suit!
The much awaited implementation of the pictorial warnings law for all tobacco products has been postponed for the fourth time. Supporters of pictorial warnings that include YMCA, Shimla; Maharana Pratap Jan Kalyan Sansthan, Jubbal; Gramudyog Welfare Worker’s Association; and Mahila Vikas Sadan, and the Advocacy Forum for Tobacco Control (AFTC) are actively demonstrating their support by means of different activities across cities.
The most recent was the Shimla Walkathon for Pictorial Warnings held on 11th December. Supporters from Healis Sekhsaria Institute for Public Health, Himachal Pradesh Voluntary Health Association (HPVHA), and other local health organizations along with hundreds of students participated in a walkathon with the common objective of reiterating their solidarity towards the government’s decision.
The law which mandates all tobacco products to carry images of cancerous tumors supposed to be implemented from December 1 was postponed owing to various reasons cited by the tobacco manufacturers. Dr. P. C. Gupta, Director, “Tobacco manufactures do not want to tell the truth to people because it may affect their profits. The arguments of size are specious—they can increase the pack size. If they are concerned about the plight of the workers let them provide health insurance and other benefits to the workers that they are entitled to by law.”
Shriniwas Joshi, Retd. IAS Officer, said at the press conference held at Shimla after the Walkathon, “Today, 40% diseases are tobacco-related; 45000 crore rupees is being spent annually for the treatment of these diseases. Soft warnings do not help. Pictorial warnings will communicate these messages more effectively. Communities including the public health organizations and the common public have a major role in supporting such a cause and make a strong demand for its implementation.”
The social organizations actively propagating the law conducted similar events in cities like Chennai & Bangalore. In Chennai, in the spirit of Human rights day on 9th December, hundreds of children came together to demand their right to tobacco smoke-free environment and pictorial warnings on all tobacco products. A human chain demonstration with over three-hundred children and 100 adults was organized by Pasumai Thayagam a social organization in front of the State Guest House, Chapaulk, Chennai in order to communicate their support for immediate implementation of the current law. Similarly, a signature campaign was organized by S.J. Chander, of Institute of Public Health, Bangalore on 7th December. Students from various colleges signed the banners that read “Save lives now! A day’s delay is 2000 lives lost.” The banners, with more than 10000 signatures were presented before the Governor of Bangalore, Rameshwar Thakur, alongwith a memorandum appealing the Governor to support implementation, on 11th December by S.J. Chander and representatives of various colleges. The Governor expressed his support towards the cause by signing the banner.
The concentrated efforts of the multiple organizations conducting and participating in nationwide activities is to show the support for the government’s decision of implementing pictorial warnings that they believe would ultimately lead to better awareness regarding health hazards of tobacco and reduction in tobacco usage.