Chuck cigarettes, make a quick buck

AP ministers sop

The first-time minister from Kurnool district plans to continue his crusade against smoking. Soon after taking charge, the minister announced that henceforth his programme against smoking, already under way in his business units, will be introduced in the ministry.

As a minister, he extended his incentive scheme for government employees. “They will now get Rs 1,000 as immediate incentive and another Rs 1,000 will be added to their PPF account,” he said.

Beneficiaries

The minister has already launched a similar scheme for employees of his industrial and hotel units in Kurnool district. According to district authorities, about 19,430 people have benefited from the scheme.

The incentive of Rs 1,000 per month is given to employees after they give a written oath that they have given up smoking.

The revenue for this purpose comes from a corpus fund of undisclosed amount he had created.

However, the entire incentive amount will be deducted from their salaries if they resumed smoking or were found cheating, the minister said, contending that it was not  charity that he was dolling out.

To motivate the employees, his organisation conducts several health camps, yoga classes and also suggests ways to stop them reverting to smoking.

Venkatesh has also invited various NGOs campaigning against smoking to become partners in this campaign to convert about 28,000 smokers of his department into ‘nonsmokers’.

“Do not look at the monetary benefits, but at the motives and the spirit behind the campaign,” a determined  Venkatesh said.

The minister also plans to issue certificates to non-smokers which could be useful in considering them for promotions.