The Union government’s rule mandating 85 per cent of packaging space on tobacco packets for pictorial warnings comes into from Tuesday, which is observed as World No Tobacco Day.
The respective States have been asked to initiate action, including withdrawing products that flout the rule, from the market. The question that anti-tobacco activists here are asking is whether India is serious about fulfilling its obligations under the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) protocol.
Anti-tobacco Forum (ATF) has claimed that India seems to be adopting a “please all” policy and argued that the tobacco industry should not be granted “incentives” to establish or run their business.
Vasanthkumar Mysoremath, convener of the forum, alleged that some contradictory actions by the government and its agencies have eventually helped the tobacco industry to grow with government subsidies. Citing an example, he maintained that the Tobacco Board provided subsidies to the tune of Rs.3.73 crore in 2012-13. Karnataka had 18,751 licensed tobacco growers with 25,207 barns in 2001-2002. The area permitted for cultivation was 29,852 hectares but actual cultivated area was 47,699 hectares. But in 2011-12, the number of tobacco farmers with licenses increased to 41,737 with 57,512 barns. The area permitted was 80,516 hectares but actual cultivated area was 1,18,989 hectares, Mr. Mysoremath claimed.
In addition, the Tobacco Board decided to renew lapsed licenses, allow procurement of excess grown quantity as also illegally cultivated tobacco for auction in its platforms built with public money, he said, adding that such contradictory actions may hit India’s FCTC commitment.
Under FCTC Article 5.3 guidelines, there should not be any conflict of interest for the government and government officials. The government officials must not take active part in any activity organised by the tobacco industry or related institutions, he said. He also claimed that some elected representatives and their families have a say in tobacco-related policies of the government.
He also took objection to the tobacco industry proposing to partner with governments on civic issues that appear unrelated to tobacco control. He expressed fear that this may provide tobacco representatives with access to policy makers/government officials.
We are sceptical about reduction in consumption of tobacco as 85 p.c. pictorial warning on packets is just another theme.
Vasanathkumar Mysoremath
Convener, Anti-tobacco Forum
