JOIN USBENGALURU, DHNS: The Consortium for Tobacco-Free Karnataka (CFTFK) has urged major political parties to include tobacco control measures in their election manifestos.
Dr Vishal Rao, cancer surgeon and member of the consortium, submitted the memorandum to Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) vice-president B L Shankar, BJP MLA S Suresh Kumar and JD(S) MLC and spokesperson Ramesh Babu, urging them to include in their manifestos policies and programmes that will lead to the prevention of tobacco-related diseases and deaths.
Among major suggestions in the memorandum are a complete ban on the sale of drugs and tobacco products around educational institutions, rehabilitation of tobacco farmers, supporting and encouraging them to adopt alternative crops and public awareness on the harmful effects of tobacco.