CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION OF INDIA URGE TAMIL NADU TO STRICTLY IMPLEMENT THE TOBACCO CONTROL LAW

FOLLOWING UNDERCOVER EXPOSE; CONSUMER VOICE AND CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION OF INDIA URGE TAMIL NADU TO STRICTLY IMPLEMENT THE TOBACCO CONTROL LAW

Move comes after an UnderCover Investigation by Covai Post Revealed That Banned Tobacco Products Being Sold in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu: In  the wake of a recent undercover investigation by Covai Post, which revealed that banned tobacco product gutka is still easily available inspite of ban in 2013.Consumer VOICE along with its state partner Consumers Association of India has written to Shri C.Vijaybhaskar, Minister  for Health and Family Welfare, Government of Tamilnadu, urging for strict implementation of tobacco control laws.

Some of the major revelations found during investigation:

1.    Gutka was freely available in every nook and corner in Coimbatore.Gutka was banned in Tamil nadu in 2013.

2.    This banned substance was available in several petty shops, also those near schools and hospitals as found in investigation.

3.    Found in most small shops in Coimbatore it seems that buying gutka is still as easy as buying any other commodity.

Copy of the investigation report can be found at

https://www.covaipost.com/newsintrend/the-covai-posts-investigation-years-after-the-ban-gutka-still-freely-available-in-coimbatore/

https://www.covaipost.com/newsintrend/the-covai-posts-investigation-years-after-the-ban-gutka-still-freely-available-in-coimbatore

Recently Shri C.Vijaybhaskar, Hon’ble Minister Health and Family Welfare announced in the Assembly that there will be a ban on  e-cigarettes in  Tamilnadu. Consumer VOICE and Consumers  Association of India have welcomed this bold step to save precious lives from the menace of  tobacco.

According to Shri Ashim Sanyal, COO, Consumer VOICE New Delhi “Strict Implementation and strong steps like ban of e-cigarettes are crucial for tobacco control by government. We sincerely urge Government to ensure strict implementation to save precious lives from tobacco consumption in the state of Tamilnadu.

Mrs. Nirmala Desikan, Chairman  and Managing Trustee,  CAI  says that

"As per latest Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2 overall use of tobacco went up from 16.2 per cent in 2009-10 to 20.0 per cent in 2016-17 in Tamil Nadu.   Also tobacco smoking usage rose from 9.6 percent to 10.5 percent and smokeless tobacco usage went from 8.1 to 10.6 per cent. This is a serious issue and government needs to act on violations" 

Consumers Association of India(CAI) is a 17 year old Voluntary Consumer Organization headquartered at Chennai with members all over India.CAI has been nominated to serve on various committees on TRAI,DGCA,TNERC,TANGEDCO,MTC, FSSAI,Board of BIS,CCPC(Ministry of Consumer Affairs,GOI,New Delhi)etc where we represent consumers' interest.For  full details ,please visit our Web site  http://WWW.caiindia.org

Consumers Association of India in collaboration with Voluntary Organisation in Interest of Consumer Education (VOICE) is working on various social issues including tobacco control. VOICE is a Delhi based national level consumer organization, representing consumer interests in various policy making and regulatory agencies at national and international level since 1983. See details at: www.consumer-voice.org.

Nirmala Desikan

Chairman and Managing Trustee 

Consumers Association of India & The CONCERT Trust

32, Kohinoor Complex
Vettuvankeni, Chennai 600115

Ph:   044 24494575/77
Fax: 044 24492140
E-mail: cai.india1@gmail.com

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