Issue 10
Tobacco Control in India
Fortnightly News Summary
NATIONAL HEADLINES
♦ When Lalu Prasad realised chewing khaini is a 'bad
habit'
The spotlessly clean railway stations in Japan put
Railways Minister Lalu Prasad in a bit of a spot - he
couldn't find a place to spit the red juice of khaini, a
tobacco mixture he loves to chew, and realized it had
become a "bad habit". 'I realised chewing khaini had
become a bad habit during my recent visit to Japan,' Lalu
Prasad said here Friday. (Source: Yahoo News: 24 January 2009)
♦ India tobacco exports surge 46 pct in Apr-Dec
India's tobacco exports surged 46 percent to $543.6
million in first nine months of fiscal 2008/09, as output
cuts in Europe forced overseas buyers to source more
produce from the country, a senior official said. (Source:
Reuters India: 29 January 2009)
♦ Tobacco stubbing out in public, govt to demarcate
special zones for smokers
Almost four months into the ban on smoking in public
places, the Delhi government plans to take it a step
forward by demarcating space for smoking and no-
smoking in public areas such as restaurants, pubs and
airport lounges. The guidelines, which government
officials say are as per international standards, are set to
be implemented in time for the Commonwealth Games in
2010. (Source: Indian Express: 28 January 2009)
♦ Further dilution of pictorial tobacco warnings feared
The Group of Ministers (GoM) in India will again meet to
assuage concerns of tobacco lobby on pictorial warnings,
health activists apprehend. This group of ministers (GoM)
consists of: Pranab Mukherjee (External Affairs Minister),
Kamal Nath (Commerce and Industry Minister),
Priyaranjan Dasmunsi (former Information and
Broadcasting Minister), S Jaipal Reddy (Urban
Development Minister), Dr Anbumani Ramadoss (Health
and family welfare Minister), and Oscar Fernandes (labour
and employment Minister for state). (Source: Thai-Indian News:
23 January 2009)
♦ Tobacco exports jump 13% on global demand
Tobacco shipment from India, the third-largest exporter in
the world, surged by 61% to Rs 2,428 crore till December
2008 on better price realizations and weakening rupee
against the dollar. Prices of tobacco skyrocketed to a
record average of Rs 84.85 per kg during auctions in
Andhra Pradesh in 2008 against Rs 47.47 the previous
year. (Source: The Economic Times: 26 January 2009)
♦ After months of smoking ban, Chhattisgarh yet to
file a case
Chhattisgarh police, yet to register a maiden case against
a smoker even after three months of ban on smoking in
public places, say they have more serious jobs in hand in
the Maoist insurgency-hit state.Top officers at the police
headquarters here said the state police, having a strength
of nearly 40,000 personnel for nearly 20.08 million
population, were still looking for the first case against a
smoker. (Source: IANS: 16 December 2008)
Provided by the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use
17-30 January 2009
STATE HEADLINES, Maharashtra
♦ Smoke it out
After all the false starts regarding the curbing of tobacco
usage including attacking film stars and the film industry,
Union health minister A Ramadoss has decided to attack
the industry at its roots — the cultivation of tobacco. So
far, all anti-smoking or anti-gutkha campaigns were at the
retail and personal user level — like the ban on smoking
in public places, ban on advertising and higher taxation
levels. (Source: DNA, Mumbai, Maharashtra: 23 January 2009)
♦ Bollywood hails court order on smoking in films
The Delhi high court's order quashing the ban on
depiction of on-screen smoking has come as a breath of
fresh air to the members of the film fraternity. The regional
officer of the Censor Board of Film Certification, said,
"There was never a ban on smoking on-screen. There is a
guideline that says that smoking should not be glorified.
The guideline empowers us to cut scenes if they are
glamorous." (Source: The Times of India, Mumbai, Maharashtra: 24
January 2009)
♦ Smoke cleared, Ramadoss cleared after tobacco
farming
After the ban on smoking in public places and
successfully putting pictorial warnings on tobacco packs,
health minister Dr Anbumani Ramadoss now wants to
curb tobacco farming in India. The health ministry has
sanctioned Rs 2.17 crore to the Central Tobacco
Research Institute (CTRI) in Rajahmundry to carry out a
pilot project to explore alternative cropping systems for
bidi and tobacco growers. The project will also look at
challenges farmers might face during the transition,
including issues of market support and agricultural.
(Source: DNA, Mumbai, Maharashtra: 22 January 2009)
♦ Creative support to a smoke free environment
Healis Sekhsaria Institute for Public Health sent a letter of
appreciation to Aamir Khan Productions Pvt Ltd
applauding him for the scene in his latest blockbuster hit
'Ghajini'. The scene promoting the fact that smoking is
banned in public places highlights the team's sensitivity in
correctly portraying smoking in public as an unlawful
activity, especially since most producers and directors
tend to glamorize the act of smoking and some of them
defend it as creative freedom. (Source: Power of voice, Pune,
Maharashtra: 22 January 2009
♦ Cinema can be injurious to your health
Words and expressions can hurt religious sentiments. But
can they hurt your health? Last week, in questioning the
ban on smoking in films, the Delhi High Court was
confronted with a different kind of balancing act — the
right to free speech over the demands of public health.
(Source: Indian Express, Mumbai, Maharashtra: 24 January 2009)
♦ Tobacco thief's ploy foiled by cops
The Thane District and Sessions' court on Tuesday sent a
lone accused to five days custody of the Mumbra police in
connection with cheating of a tobacco firm. The time has
been granted to the cops to recover stocks of the
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duplicate tobacco products along with items of sealing
and packing of the fake brands. (Source: The Times of India,
Mumbai, Maharashtra: 23 January 2009)

Provided by the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use