The Hindu Business Line : Health Ministry to enforce anti-tobacco law from Jan 1

FROM January 1, 2005 the Health Ministry will start cracking the whip on violations of the tobacco control legislation. The Health Minister, Dr A. Ramadoss, has already written to all the Chief Ministers asking them to strictly enforce the Act.

Speaking to newspersons after releasing a report on `Tobacco Control in India', prepared by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, US, and WHO, Dr Ramadoss said: "We have given enough time from May 1, 2004 to end of this year. From January 1, there will be a stricter implementation."

The Government has already prohibited sale of tobacco products to minors and smoking in public places, besides banning advertisements.

From December 1, 2004 sale of tobacco products will not be allowed within 100 m of the premises of educational institutions.

"The day is not far off when the country may actually ban sale of tobacco products due to the huge amount of money being spent on treating tobacco-related diseases. However, it is just an idea at this stage," Dr Ramadoss said.

On the issue of sale of gutkha, the Minister said that if any State Government writes to the Centre seeking a ban, the Government would take action but no State Government has approached the Health Ministry on this issue.

The report on tobacco control states that currently, there are an estimated 240 million tobacco users aged 15 years and above (195 million male users and 45 million female users) in India. Overall, smoking causes seven lakh deaths every year in the country.

Some of the measures suggested in the report to bring down tobacco consumption include changes in taxation levels for tobacco products, setting up of a regulatory body and supply-side measures to protect the interest of growers.