Two days before the beginning of regular Parliamentary proceedings, the anti-smoking advocacy groups have appealed to the MPs to reconsider the Cabinet decision of making the “skull and bones” warning symbols optional for cigarette and beedi packets.
Succumbing to political pressure, the Cabinet had decided to make the “skull and bone” symbols optional. Parliament will now have to debate and amend Section 7 of the Tobacco Act of 2003 to make pictorial warnings optional.
But public health workers are up in the arms. “Pictorial warnings are necessary for the Indian population where most consumers have low levels of literacy and education,” said Dr K Srinath Reddy, president of the Public Health Foundation of India.
It is not clear at the moment as to how the government will face the global embarrassment once the amendment is passed, sources said, adding that India had ratified the WHO’s framework convention on tobacco control that encourages pictorial warnings occupying 50 per cent of package space. It was agreed internationally to have a three-year time frame to make regulatory changes for such packaging. This will elapse in Feb, 2008.
As youngsters get into this habit without being informed about its ill-effects, this provision in existing legislation provides a chance for consumers to make an informed choice, said Dr Reddy.
who also heads the cardiology department at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.
However, the Cabinet took the controversial decision, following the recommendations of a group of minister (GoM) headed by Pranab Mukherjee.
The GoM ruled out the printing of such images on tobacco packets fearing loss of livelihood for tobacco workers, which in turn may have influence on the vote bank politics.
Countering the unemployment and livelihood issues, public health worker Monika Arora said since control measures are likely to result in a gradual decline in tobacco consumption over many years, as there will be sufficient time to identify and relocate those solely dependent on tobacco production.
India is the world’s third largest producer of tobacco after China and Brazil. While annual revenue from tobacco products is Rs 7,700 crore, the direct health costs for tobacco related diseases like cancer, heart and lung diseases are Rs 30,800 crore.
