Govt to launch fresh campaign against smoking

Government will launch a fresh campaign against tobacco smoking to warn people about the health hazards and the penalties to be faced by violators.
The Health Ministry said it will release new Anti-Tobacco health spots titled 'Child' and 'Dhuan' for "Tobacco-Free Film Rules" replacing the existing two spots 'Mukesh' and 'Sponge' on October 2 which also marks the completion of five years of implementation of smoke-free laws in the country.
According to the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act (COTPA), the anti-tobacco health spots and disclaimers are being provided by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

With effect from October 2, 2012, two spots 'Mukesh' and 'Sponge' depicting harmful effect of usage of smokeless and smoking forms of tobacco, were used.
Now, the Ministry is replacing these spots with two new spots titled 'Child' and 'Dhuan' "developed to warn about the health costs of smoking and second hand smoke and of the penalties to be faced by violating the smoke free law," the government said.
"These spots have been dubbed in 16 Indian languages for a pan India coverage," it said.

'Child' focuses on the health risks of smoking and second-hand smoke, while 'Dhuan' especially models the behavior expected of business managers, advocates, enforcement officials, smokers and non-smokers, a Health Ministry release said.

The spots have been developed by World Lung Foundation (WLF).
It is estimated that nearly 8-9 lakh people die every year due to diseases related to tobacco use in India with 5500 youth starting tobacco use every day.
About 50 per cent of all cancers in males and 25 per cent of all cancers in females can be attributed to tobacco use. It is estimated that about 90 per cent of all the oral cancers are caused due to smokeless tobacco use.