Signature campaign starts against tobacco board

BANGALORE: Several city-based organisations have started a signature campaign against government’s involvement in the third Global Tobacco N e t wo rk i n g Fo r um (GTNF).

Institute of Public Health (IPH) and a few other organisations have started the campaign. They are protesting the decision of Tobacco Board of India, a government entity, to sponsor the event. The event will be held from October 4-8 in Bangalore.

Dr Upendra Bhojani, public health researcher, IPH, said India is one of the signatories of World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and as per the treaty, the government cannot partner with the tobacco industry. He said Tobacco Board of India was violating the terms of FCTC by sponsoring GTNF.

The signature campaign started at St John’s Medical College with students of department of community medicine participating in it.

Dr Bhojani said the campaign would soon be taken to other medical colleges, including Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute and Government Dental College.

“Once the target of one lakh signatures is achieved, the signatures along with the petitioner’s names will be sent to the governor,” he added.

GTNF, the four-day event, will be dedicated to discussing and subsequently enhancing the reach and scope of the tobacco industry in India. Twenty-four leading tobacco manufacturing and packaging companies are sponsoring the event along with Tobacco Board of India.