The Hindu Business Line : Workplaces will soon be smoke-free

Great honour: Mr Anbumani Ramadoss, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, receiving the WHO Director-General’s Special Award for Tobacco Control from Dr Samlee Plianbangchang, Regional Director, WHO-South East Asia, in the Capital on Friday. —

Our Bureau

New Delhi, July 20 The Government is intensifying its anti-tobacco campaign and has moved to amend existing laws.

Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, who was felicitated by the WHO for his anti-tobacco work today, said that all work places will be made smoke-free. This includehotels, offices and any place with employees. Those flouting the rule, to be announced in a few months, would call for ‘stringent punishment.’

The Union Cabinet today gave its approval for an ordinance to amend section 7 (1) of the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act 2003. The earlier proposal for a ‘skull and cross bones’ warning was not being considered. The amendment would, however, call for stronger warnings on tobacco products.

Accepting the World Health Organisation (WHO) Director General’s Special Award for Tobacco Control from Dr Samlee Plianbangchang, Regional Director, (South-East Asia), WHO, the Minister said that although the Government had introduced several laws to deal with the problem of tobacco use, implementation has been far from sufficient. “One of the main reasons is the lack of sensitisation or awareness amongst the key stakeholders on the harmful effects of tobacco consumption. There is also lack of a regulatory framework for effective monitoring and enforcement.” . A new National Programme for Tobacco Control is to be launched in the 11th Five Year Plan which will set up a National Regulatory Authority to monitor and enforce anti- tobacco laws. The minister also announced a Health Minster’s Cancer Fund and called for contributions.