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News & Events
August 12, 2009: Voluntary Health Associaton of India (VHAI) organized a media advocacy workshop in collaboration with Aparajita Voluntary Health Association of India at Hotel Marion, Bhubaneswar on 12th August 2009
Media Advocacy Workshop - Bhubaneswar
Date: 12/08/09
Venue: Hotel Marison, Bhubaneswar
Orissa, 12th August, 2009: Leading gutkha brands which have printed pictorial health warnings on their packets are actually in violation of the government’s notification to implement the new packaging and labeling rules which came into effect on 31 May 2009. Some chewing tobacco products have appeared on market shelves with pictorial health warnings printed on one side of their packets but not covering the specified area as mentioned in the rules.
As per the undertaking given by the Central Government in the Supreme Court on 6 May 2009, it is very clear that the law makes it compulsory for all packages of tobacco products to display pictorial warnings on 40% of the total area on one side of the packets. The latest pictorial warnings as seen on gutkha sachets clearly violate the law since they are significantly less than 40% of the area.
There are many brands which have a health warning written in only one language which is against the packaging and labeling rules which mandates that such warnings must be printed in English and the language in which the brand name of the product has been written.
Tobacco companies are not implementing the Supreme Court order and the government’s notification in the right spirit. As a matter of fact, they are in gross violation of specifications that have been clearly communicated to all manufacturers. Even though it is now August, cigarette, bidi and many gutkha companies are yet to introduce the new packets. Strong enforcement drive should be initiated by the Government in order to prevent further dilution of packaging and labeling rules.”
The Voluntary Health Association of India which played a key role in getting pictorial health warnings on packages of tobacco products implemented believes that proper enforcement of the law will go a long way in informing the consumers about the harmful effects of tobacco and would help in curbing its use.
In Orissa there is no monitoring mechanism still in place. The tobacco industries are very casual in complying this component of the law and follow orders of Supreme court. There is no checking or seizure which can create an alert among the vendors as well as tobacco companies to take this issue seriously. A rapid assessment at 20 shops in Bhubaneswar in the first week of August reveals the following findings:
A shop at Palaspalli selling different brands of tobacco products and cigarretes keeps stock of Tobacco brands having pictorial warning such as Panjabi, Safal, Bhar, Raja Khaini, Delux Mix.Navy cut, Flake whereas the products of the brand name Meenajee, Haradakhandi, Silong, Tulsi do not have pictorial warning on them. When asked the reason of such deviation the vendors answered that there are some old stock which have been remained unsold. However brands such as Meenaji, HaradaKhandi have not yet included these warning on the pack.
Many bidi companies one for example New Orissa Bidi does not have any pack warning.
In 80% of the brands the pictorial warning does not cover 40% area of the pack.
In all the gutka packets there are two pictures with very small writing as warning.
To our surprise a Khaini brand- Tura Chhap Khaini does not have the pack warning. It also does not have content details. There is a picture of a small girl wearing uniform. What this brand is focusing at? Are the youngsters are the target customer?
The shop keepers are of the opinion that there is impact of pack warning on people and as a result the sale have gone down to some extent. The massive awareness through media has a great impact on changing the tobacco consumption behaviour of people.
Pictorial Warning on tobacco packs is not able to meet its objective fully as there are flaws at all levels. Starting from designing, specification, awareness and people’s concern, at every stage there is a need of further improvement. The illiterates and youth should be made aware about the purpose of pack warning and harmfulness of tobacco consumption.
In Orissa with the action of enforcement from Commissionerate of Police there is regular seizure of tobacco products from the shops within 100 yards of educational institutes.
The hotels and cinema halls have been issued with instruction from the commissionerate of Police to comply the smoke free laws in their premises. The cinema halls are showing slides of health messages during the interval time for mass awareness on instruction of the Police Commissionerate. There are no smoking written on the ticket of the cinema hall. The Police has taken steps to make the sports smoke free thereby giving instructions to the stadium.
On 12th August 2009 an Advocacy Workshop was organized at Hotel New Marrion wherein there was participation from leading media houses, civil society organizations and youths. The Commissioner of Police, Mr Bijay Kumar Sharma was the chief guest in the programme and inaugurated the workshop. While addressing the audience he said that compliance is more important than enforcement. The police may do enforcement in certain pockets at different times but with mass awareness and sensitization people can be conscious about their own well being and tobacco consumption will come down”. He also said that media and civil society organizations can play very important role in raising compliance among people through mass awareness. As an action to enforce smokefree law Mr Sharma told that the law of smoking banned in public place will be applied on Hotels, Restaurants and Cinema Halls for issuance or renewal of their license.
The Chairman and Managing Director, Hemlata Cancer Hospital during evidence based scientic presentation focused on the health impact of tobacco consumption. He emphasized that one single habit of tobacco consumption may cause cancer and many other health problems. Quoting his hospital data he stated that over 90% of patients with oral cancer use tobacco in different forms.
Mr Akhauri Pradyuman Sinha, Programme Officer (Media) made a presentation on the provisions of COTPA 2003 while elaborating in detail on pictorial health warning, smkofree laws and ban on sell of tobacco near educational institutes.
Ms Itishree Kanungo, Project Manager, VHAI-Aparajita, invited participation of media, civil society organizations and youths to strengthen the issue of tobacco control in the State and gear up the movement. There is an urgent need of creating awareness on the importance of pictorial warning and the government should take necessary steps for proper implementation of the provisions of the law.
http://www.rctfi.org/MediaAdvocacyWorkshop-Bhubaneswar/index.htm