Big Tobacco-Tiny Targets Survey State Dissemination-Madhya Pradesh
Big Tobacco-Tiny Targets Survey State Dissemination-Madhya Pradesh
by admin | Apr 22, 2019 | Tobacco
Big Tobacco-Tiny Targets Survey State Dissemination-Madhya Pradesh
National Centre for Human Settlements and Environment, Bhopal along with Consumer VOICE, New Delhi organised stakeholders workshops to disseminate the “Big Tobacco-Tiny Targets” survey report. The workshops were held in 5 cities in Madhya Pradesh – Bhopal, Indore, Sagar, Jabalpur and Gwalior where the survey was conducted. The workshops were held in the month of March and April 2019. The report reveals how tobacco companies are systematically targeting children as young as eight years old in the state of Assam by selling tobacco products and placing tobacco advertisements near schools premises.
Dr Shailendra Patni of Gandhi Medical College and Mrs Archana Sahay, Chief Executive of Child line, Dr. Sanjay Chatani, Dental Surgeon & District Nodal Officer, Tobacco Control Programme, Jabalpur , Shri P.S.Rahul of Environmental conservation and Tribal Development Centre and Mrs. Lata Atulkar, Janpad Siksha Kendra, Jabalpur shared their experiences of how they have got rid of the habit of tobacco use. More than 300 persons including the school students, teachers of educational institutions, representatives NGOs, participated in the workshops. Experts shared their views on the harmful effects of tobacco usage and also highlighted that initiation to tobacco addition in children starts in three ways. First on seeing their parents using tobacco at home, second through friendship and third due to easy access.
The workshops received mass media coverage including print, online and electronic (Doordarshan, MP)
The recommendations of the study are:
by admin | Apr 20, 2019 | Tobacco
Big Tobacco-Tiny Targets study survey study dissemination – Tamil Nadu
Consumer VOICE, Delhi in collaboration with Consumer’s Association of India, Chennai organized Stakeholders’ dissemination workshop on ‘’Big Tobacco-Tiny Targets’’ study in Chennai on 26th March 2019. This report reveals how tobacco companies are systematically targeting children as young as eight years old in Tamil Nadu by selling tobacco products and placing tobacco advertisements near school premises.
Mrs. M P Nirmala, IAS (Rtd), Chairperson, Tamil Nadu Child Rights Commission, shared her experience related to tobacco consumption among children. She said it is everyone’s responsibility to take a step forward to save lives of children of our country. Chitra Prasad, representative of the NSN Group of Schools in Chennai said, their schools have boards at the distance of 100 yards of the premises, stating tobacco-free zone but petty shops are selling tobacco products in that area.
Mrs. Nirmala Desikan, Chairperson Consumers Association of India disseminated the findings of survey done in the schools of the state.
Dr A Somasundaram, Nodal Office Tobacco Control Cell, Chennai present at the workshop spoke how the Public Health department is initiating action to such violations. He also mentioned about cases of violation of COTPA near school premises found in the survey report and assured to take strict action against the same.
A panel discussion was also organised on the topic Saving Young Generation from exposure to Tobacco Products and usage. Dr Boopesh, MD, MPH, Medical Officer ,School Health(HEB),DPH and PM office, Dr M.Jawaharlal Nehru, HOD, Dept of Commerce, Hindu College, Chennai and Mrs Pramila Saravanan BBC Tamil spoke on the measures like vendor licensing to control such violations.
The workshop was attended by 55 people including students, health experts, representative from Child Rights Commission, tobacco control officials, media, activists working on tobacco control and Consumer and Child right issues. The media provided wide coverage of the event including print , electronic and wire.
The recommendations of the study are:
Click here for the Media Coverage of Big Tobacco Tiny Targets
by admin | Apr 16, 2019 | Tobacco
Health Ministry Issues Advisory to States to Ban E-Cigarettes
Following the advisory of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), 11 states in India (Punjab, Karnataka, Kerala, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Mizoram) and 1 Union Territory (Puducherry) have banned the use and sale of E-cigarettes, Vape & E-Hookah due to its health hazards. The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India on 28th August 2018 issued an advisory to all States/UTs, to ensure that Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), e-Cigarettes, Heat-Not-Burn devices, Vape, e-Sheesha, e-Nicotine Flavoured Hookah, and the like devices that enable nicotine delivery are not sold (including online sale), manufactured, distributed, traded, imported and advertised in their jurisdictions. The move came in the wake of the Delhi HC taking strong exception to the Centre for delay in coming up with appropriate measures to tackle the “new emerging threat” of e-cigarettes in the country.However, the Delhi High Court stayed the Directorate General of Health Services Central Drugs Standard Control circular and directed the Government to file their appeal and listed the case hearing for May 17. This is infact disheartening when especially the health effects of e-cigarettes are equally grave if not more than normal cigarettes. However the Delhi High Court stay doesn’t apply to the 11 states and 1 UT which have banned E-cigarettes.
“We urge the states to use the Health Ministry advisory to ban E-cigarettes and other nicotine delivery products and protect the youth in their state. E-cigarettes pose significant health risks to users that are frighteningly similar to those of conventional cigarettes “said Shri Ashim Sanyal, COO, Consumer VOICE New Delhi.
Consumer VOICE has sent press releases to its partner states (Madhya Pradesh, Andhara Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhatisgarh, Chandigarh, Haryana, Assam, Goa, Odisha) urging them to ban e-cigarettes as per the advisory of the MoHFW.
by admin | Apr 10, 2019 | Tobacco
Big Tobacco-Tiny Targets Survey State Dissemination in Gujarat
Consumer VOICE, Delhi in collaboration with Rajkot Saher Jilla Grahak Suraksha Mandal, Gujarat, organized a Stakeholders’ dissemination workshop on ‘’Big Tobacco-Tiny Targets’’ study in four cities of Gujarat- Ahmedabad, Morbi, Rajkot and Jamnagar on 27th Feb, 12th March, 23rd March and 26thMarch 2019. A report which reveals how tobacco companies are systematically targeting children as young as eight years old in Gujarat by selling tobacco products and placing tobacco advertisements near schools premises.
Workshops were attended by various stakeholdersHon. Justice, Consumer Forum; Ex-President Nagar Palika; Hon. MLA &Ex Minister, Govt. of Gujarat; Representative from CSO; Hon. Mayor; Head from Tobacco Control Cell; Representative from educational institute;Students; Health experts; Media Representative; Activists working on tobacco control; Activists working on Consumer and Child right issues. Shri AnupsinhJadeja Ex-President Nagar Palika, Morbi mentioned in his speech that he always try to control tobacco product sale in Morbi district. He emphasis on the strong COTPA implementation.Shri Govindbhai Patel, Hon. MLA & Ex Minister, Govt. of Gujarat, Rajkot gave his assurance of that he will talk to the government for COTPA implementation. He said it’s our social responsibility to protect children from tobacco. Smt. NazmaHala – Head tobacco control cell, Jamnagar District presented advisory given by the Health Department of Gujarat state, She has given assurance to take a special report in the next tobacco control cell meeting organized by the Hon. Collector, as well as state government meeting organized by the Health Secretary, Gandhinagar.
by admin | Apr 10, 2019 | Tobacco
Big Tobacco-Tiny Targets Survey State Dissemination in Assam
Consumers’ Legal Protection Forum along with Consumer VOICE, New Delhi organised workshops for stakeholders in Assam to disseminate the “Big Tobacco-Tiny Targets” survey report. The workshops were held in Guwahati, Dibrugarh and Jorhat where the survey was conducted. A report which reveals how tobacco companies are systematically targeting children as young as eight years old in the state of Assam by selling tobacco products and placing tobacco advertisements near schools premises.
The workshops were attended by around 250 various stakeholders including representatives from Municipal Corporation, Mayor, State Tobacco Control Cell, representative from Police Department, health experts, tobacco control officials, youth icons, officials from Municipal Corporation, students leaders, media, students, Resident Welfare Associations, CSOs and activists working on tobacco control, Consumer and Child right issues.
In the workshop, the speakers Dr Arundhuti Deka, State Nodal Officer, State Tobacco Control Cell, Govt. of Assam speaking on the “Role of Restricting tobacco sales to young people: Policy Advisory on Vendor Licensing.” Pratul Phukan, Rtd. DIG, Assam Police; Dr. Srabana Misra Bhagabaty, Associated Professor cum In-Charge Department of Preventive Oncology, Dr. B. BOROOAH CANCER INSTITUTE; Ravi Shankar Ravi, Editor, Dainik Purvoday, Iqbal Ahmed, Senior Reporter, The Sentinel; Prakash Sarmah; Dwijendra Nath Borthakur, Retd. Principal of Sonaram H.S School, Guwahati; and Siddheswar Das, Senior Team Member, Child line. All the speakers emphasized on urgent action from the Government agencies to stop tobacco companies from targeting children from aggressive advertising & selling of tobacco products around schools and stricter enforcement of COTPA rules prohibiting the selling and advertising of tobacco products within 100 yards of educational institutions.
This new report is not the first time the tobacco industry has been found targeting children, nor is it unique to India. However, the data is alarming because it documents a very systematic and widespread pattern of activity by tobacco companies to get young people addicted to tobacco.
For Media Coverage. Please Click Here
by admin | Mar 8, 2019 | Tobacco
State Level Workshop for Sensitization Of Stakeholders to Support Tobacco Vendor Licensing Vijaywada, Andhra Pradesh
The Consumer Guidance Society, Vijayawada in with support from Consumer VOICE, New Delhi organised a state level workshop on tobacco control Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh on January 29, 2019. The main objective of the workshop was sensitization of stakeholders on tobacco control measures in Andhra Pradesh through vendor licensing.The workshop was formally inaugurated by Dr. P.V.V.S. Murthy, Hon’rary President, The Federation of A.P. Consumer Organisations and Dr. T. Geeta Prasadini, Addl. Director, DPH &FW and Nodal Officer, NTCP and NOHP.
Dr. Ch. Divakar Babu, Secretary, Consumers Guidance Society in his introductory remarks has explained in brief about the overview of Tobacco Control in the State of Andhra Pradesh. He stated that though the total per cent of people consuming tobacco and other allied products has come down from 28 per cent to 20 per cent but it is worrisome to notice that younger generation is being lured by tobacco manufacturers by their novel and deceptive surrogate ads and techniques and which needs to be curbed at the earliest.
Sri Amarjeet Singh Panghal, Advisor, Legal had made a power point presentation about the key findings of the study on Tobacco Vendors in the state. He expressed his concern over lax enforcement of COTPA due to multifarious reasons, which include lack of awareness among stakeholders, deceptive novel methods adopted by tobacco manufacturing companies to lure especially younger generation into consuming their products , lack of co-ordination in between enforcement agencies and want of any licensing regime for sale of Tobacco and allied products. Hence, he strongly advocated for compulsory license of tobacco vendors.
The key findings of survey are:
The inaugural session was followed by two panel discussions. The first panel discussion was on the role of media in tobacco control. M. Syam Sundar, Bureau chief, Hans India in his speech expressed his firm opinion that print and electronic media has a monumental role to play in promoting health and welfare of people. Hence, he opined that media should disseminate authentic information about the ill-effects of consumption of tobacco products to the people in order to enable the latter to exercise their informed choices.
N.Jaya Prakash, Andhra Pradesh working Journalists Union has opined that media should sensitise public about the detrimental effects of consumption of tobacco on health and longevity of consumers.
The second panel discussion was on the subject “Needs and strategies for protecting the young generation from the menace of tobacco. The experts in the second session were Dt.T.Geeta Prasadini, Addl. Director, Department of Public Health & Family Welfare, Dr. S. Bhavana, Reader, Dept of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Dr.E.Prasanth, MDS, Programme Officer, NTCP &NOHP, Dr. H.Kalyan Rao, Asst. Professor and Sri N. Poornachandra Rao, AFC&DO Food Safety and Standards Administration.
The experts dwelt at length on what needs to be done to protect younger generation from the menace of tobacco .The common theme advocated and articulated by the experts participating in the discussion was that compulsory vendor license is a pragmatic idea to be worth implemented to keep the younger generation from the influence of Tobacco Products. The other important suggestions and recommendations made by the experts were;
(1) Surrogate advertisement in any form should be strictly banned.
(2) COTPA should be strictly implemented by the enforcement agencies
(3) Awareness about the provisions of COTPA should be generated by designing and adopting multi-pronged approach.
(4) Young generation should be properly sensitized about the harmful effects of Tobacco and allied products by formulating and designing specific plans towards children and youth.
(6) Vendor licence for Tobacco Vendors should be seriously pursued for ensuring its implementation at the ground level. The positive signs made by the Municipal Administration in response to the advocacy efforts of Consumers Guidance Society by issuing a specific letter must be fully utilised to make co-ordinated efforts for achieving the same.
After the conclusion of two panel discussions, the floor was thrown open for comments and suggestions of the participants. Around 60 participants including health experts, municipal corporation officials, tobacco control activists, media persons, CSOs enthusiastically took part in the deliberations and gave their valuable suggestions.