Dr. Shantha wants PM to ban smoking scenes in movies

Chairperson of the Cancer Institute Adyar and eminent oncologist V. Shanta has sent a letter to the Prime Minister over the warning scroll screened in cinemas whenever scenes of smoking are displayed.

The letter was sent on April 23.

The letter says that as per media reports, leading film-makers in the country have submitted a representation to the I&B Ministry to withdraw the requirement for the warning scroll and that the I&B Ministry has said it will take up this matter with the Health Ministry.

“In the interest of public health, smoking scenes in the movies as a whole should be banned…Your immediate intervention would save the younger generation from the devastating tobacco. Your support publicly will make all the difference,” the letter says.

The letter also says that there are believed to be many violations in movies such as non-display of the warnings. “We earnestly appeal to you to take such action, as will make the I&B Ministry to implement this rule strictly in all the movies immediately.”

As per the commitment to the World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, it is the responsibility of the government of India to educate the public about the ill-effects of tobacco, the letter points out.

The letter is signed “on behalf of all cancer patients and their families and the Oncologic fraternity” by Dr. Shanta.