Enarada, Bangalore, July 1, 2013:
The recent decision by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to tie up with a tobacco company (ITC) for its Zero Garbage Model programme has received objections from many corners.
Members of the Consortium for Tobacco Free Karnataka (CFTFK), that comprises NGOs, academic institutions and healthcare delivery organisations, today demanded that the BBMP disassociate itself immediately from the tobacco company.
It’s ironic but a fact that the theme for this year’s World No Tobacco Day is prohibition on tobacco advertisement, promotion and sponsorships (TAPS) and a state-level consultation on ban on TAPS has been planned this week. In fact, BBMP itself is a district anti tobacco cell for the Bangalore Urban district.
CFTFK members were concerned over the media reports on BBMP’s collaboration with ITC (Indian Tobacco Company) for Zero Garbage Model programme launched on 1st July, 2013. Mr. S J Chander of CFTFK explained that “such collaboration violates section 5 of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, as well as article 5.3 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) signed by Government of India, as it enhances public image of a tobacco company and amounts to an indirect promotion of tobacco.”
ITC is the largest manufacturer of cigarettes in India. It is estimated that more than 10 lakh people die every year due to the use of tobacco in India. More than 1.5 crore people use tobacco in Karnataka.
“Such collaboration between government agency and a tobacco company not only enhances public image of tobacco company but also creates opportunities for tobacco companies to influence and interfere with public policies in general” Dr. Prem Mony of CFTFK added.
In past (2010), Karnataka high court had directed another government agency (Indian Tobacco Board, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, GOI) to withdraw its partnership with other tobacco companies for an event in Bangalore (Institute of Public health, Bangalore Vs Union of India and others), terming such partnership as indirect promotion of tobacco. The proposed collaboration would also amount to surrogate advertisement of tobacco.
Many member organisations of CFTFK have written letters to BBMP Commissioner expressing their concern over such collaboration. “While we appreciate BBMP’s efforts to control tobacco use, being the District Anti-Tobacco Control Cell (Bangalore Urban) itself, the Palike should discourage tobacco companies’ efforts in promoting their image through ‘so called’ corporate social responsibility (CSR).
As per WHO, activities that are described as “socially responsible” by the tobacco industry, aiming at the promotion of tobacco consumption, is a marketing as well as a public relations strategy”, said Dr. Upendra Bhojani of CFTFK.
