The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Students to take part in anti-tobacco campaign

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Students to take part in anti-tobacco campaign

Staff Reporter

Ramadoss inaugurates anti-tobacco rally

Rs. 450 crore has been set aside for the campaign
Ban on smoking was imposed on October 2

Bangalore: To make its anti-tobacco campaign more successful, the Union Health Ministry will now involve elected representatives, teachers and students as enforcers of the no-smoking rule.

Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Anbumani Ramadoss on Monday said that MPs, MLAs, corporators and members of panchayats apart from teachers and students would be involved in the campaign.

The Ministry imposed ban on smoking in public places from October 2.

Speaking after unveiling an anti-tobacco rally at Bangalore Medical College, the Minister admitted that more had to be done in Karnataka on implementing the ban.

“But the campaign largely depends on public participation. In the West, 90 per cent of the campaign’s success depends on voluntary participation and only 10 per cent on enforcement. We should take a cue from them,” the Minister said.

“Punitive measures are not the only solution. The campaign is definitely showing results, though more has to be done. I am happy that awareness about the ill-effects of smoking is being created in Karnataka,” the Minister said.

While Rs. 450 crore had been set aside for the campaign, 10 per cent of the cess collected from tobacco sales would be used for the purpose. The Ministry planned to increase the allocation by another Rs. 125 crore annually, he said.

“If we sustain the campaign for six more months, it will yield the desired results as it will trigger a chain reaction. We can create more awareness through school forums and non-voluntary organisations. The Minister said similar policy measures had to be initiated to check alcohol consumption too.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka