Tobacco retailers sore over Govt's new warning norms

Micro retailers engaged in sale of cigarettes, bids and other tobacco products in the city have joined the nationwide protest, opposing Government of India's new rule to impose 85 per cent graphic health warnings on tobacco products.

The retailers are protesting under the aegis of Bhubaneswar Khilipan Dokan Mahasangha, which represents the collective voice of the interests of more than 200,000 traders and retailers and selling tobacco products across Odisha.

B Srinivasu, president, Bhubaneswar Khilipan Dokan Mahasangha, said: "The Government wants us to be surrounded by horrifying pictures. These horrifying pictures will have huge negative impact on our psyche and can possibly disturb our peace of mind and drive us to become mentally imbalanced. We totally disagree and deny to deliver such messages".

"If USA, which is considered the epitome of health and democratic rights in the world, has found graphic health warnings unconstitutional, then what argument does India have to push large, shocking warnings of 85 per cent on tobacco packs", he questioned.

Presently, cigarettes are the most smuggled item in the country after gold. There has been a rapid growth in smuggled and illegal cigarettes over the last few years. In 2015-16, the seizures of smuggled cigarettes have increased 10 times.

Some retailers and hawkers have resorted to selling various illicit, smuggled and illegal local and international brands of cigarettes to improve their margins and livelihood prospects. The smuggled cigarettes do not have graphic health warnings, and therefore, the consumers also prefer them, as many of them believe that Indian cigarettes are more harmful.

"There are 45.7 million people dependent on the tobacco industry in India, including farmers, labour, workers, trade and no organization or individual representing their interest was consulted or heard when the rules were framed in 2014. There is more to this than what is visible, which needs to be uncovered", said Bidyadhar Mishra, secretary of the association.