<div align="justify">A top doctor from Tata Memorial Centre, one of India's biggest cancer hospitals, has sought Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's intervention to counter a behind-the-scene campaign by the tobacco lobby to stall India's anti-tobacco initiatives.<br /><br />Kailash Sharma, director, academics at the TMC wrote to Singh following news reports that refer to a note prepared by the Intelligence Bureau on the scrutiny of anti-tobacco activities in India.<br /><br />“I have been following the reports appearing in media that intelligence wing of your ministry has labelled 'tobacco control' as an 'unhealthy' activity. Please investigate if the report has been instigated by the Tobacco Lobby to derail the efforts of the government,” Sharma wrote. <br /><br />“It would be unfortunate to malign 'tobacco control' as an 'unhealthy' activity. While tobacco industry lobbies to enhance their business, public health activists are lobbying to save disease, death and deprivation,” he added. <br /> <br />Nearly half of the cancers in India are attributable to tobacco. Since tobacco is more addictive than heroin, only 5% of Indians are able to quit tobacco that too after getting fatal illnesses. Close to 12 lakh people die annually due to tobacco leaving behind millions of bereaved and impoverished family members, says the letter.<br /><br />News agency Reuters reported on the existence of the intelligence note that raises concerns on the activities of Bloomberg Philanthropies that fund anti-tobacco lobbying activities in India. The non-governmental organisation was founded by billionaire Michael Bloomberg.<br /><br />While the government is yet to take any action against Bloomberg Philanthropies, three non-governmental organisations receiving the funding from the US-NGO were denied renewal of their registration under the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act, reportedly for violation of the rules.<br /><br />“International support augments our efforts for effective tobacco control that indeed has international ramifications,” Sharma wrote in his letter, copies of which were also sent to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Health Minister J P Nadda and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. <br /><br />Earlier this year, the Union Home Ministry barred the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), a Delhi-based NGO, from receiving foreign funds on charges of violation of the law. The ministry took the action following an internal probe report that found PHFI was "diverting" foreign funds for purposes other than what was it intended for. <br /><br /></div>
<div align="justify">A top doctor from Tata Memorial Centre, one of India's biggest cancer hospitals, has sought Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's intervention to counter a behind-the-scene campaign by the tobacco lobby to stall India's anti-tobacco initiatives.<br /><br />Kailash Sharma, director, academics at the TMC wrote to Singh following news reports that refer to a note prepared by the Intelligence Bureau on the scrutiny of anti-tobacco activities in India.<br /><br />“I have been following the reports appearing in media that intelligence wing of your ministry has labelled 'tobacco control' as an 'unhealthy' activity. Please investigate if the report has been instigated by the Tobacco Lobby to derail the efforts of the government,” Sharma wrote. <br /><br />“It would be unfortunate to malign 'tobacco control' as an 'unhealthy' activity. While tobacco industry lobbies to enhance their business, public health activists are lobbying to save disease, death and deprivation,” he added. <br /> <br />Nearly half of the cancers in India are attributable to tobacco. Since tobacco is more addictive than heroin, only 5% of Indians are able to quit tobacco that too after getting fatal illnesses. Close to 12 lakh people die annually due to tobacco leaving behind millions of bereaved and impoverished family members, says the letter.<br /><br />News agency Reuters reported on the existence of the intelligence note that raises concerns on the activities of Bloomberg Philanthropies that fund anti-tobacco lobbying activities in India. The non-governmental organisation was founded by billionaire Michael Bloomberg.<br /><br />While the government is yet to take any action against Bloomberg Philanthropies, three non-governmental organisations receiving the funding from the US-NGO were denied renewal of their registration under the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act, reportedly for violation of the rules.<br /><br />“International support augments our efforts for effective tobacco control that indeed has international ramifications,” Sharma wrote in his letter, copies of which were also sent to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Health Minister J P Nadda and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. <br /><br />Earlier this year, the Union Home Ministry barred the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), a Delhi-based NGO, from receiving foreign funds on charges of violation of the law. The ministry took the action following an internal probe report that found PHFI was "diverting" foreign funds for purposes other than what was it intended for. <br /><br /></div>
