We need to create social awareness against tobacco consumption: D Raja

Reacting to a parliamentary panel's suggestion to reduce pictorial warnings on tobacco products, Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D Raja on Tuesday said there is an absolute need to create social awareness against tobacco consumption.

Raja told ANI that, "There is need to create social awareness against tobacco. We have to take cognisance of such an important issue. Let us see how the government acts."

According to the Health Ministry, members of a parliamentary panel have suggested that pictorial warnings on tobacco products should be 50 percent against the proposed 85 percent.

According to sources, Health Ministry said that the committee has come is of the view that in order to have a balanced approach, the warning on cigarette packets should be 50 percent on both sides of the principal display area else it might result in flooding of illicit cigarettes in the country.

The Health Ministry has been adamant on implementing 85 percent pictorial health warnings on both sides of all tobacco products.