Mock funeral for tobacco
New Delhi, May 30, 2004 (ANI)

Health activists in Delhi held a mock funeral of an effigy representing tobacco on Sunday urging people to stop using tobacoo.

The awareness campaign comes on the eve of the World Anti-Tobacco Day on Monday and two weeks after India officially enforced a ban on smoking in public places.

Among the world's 25 highest cigarette consumers, Indians accounted for one-fifth of the four million people who died last year due to tobacco-related diseases.

The country produces and consumes the maximum variety of tobacco products in both smokeless and smoking forms including cigarettes, "Bidis" or tendu-leaves roll filled with tobacco, cigars, and processed tobacco.

According to WHO estimates, over 500,000 people die every year due to tobacco and with the current trend, the number will rise to 10 million in 2030, majority of deaths occurring in developing countries.

India is among a few countries like Sri Lanka to ban tobacco-related advertisements.

"It is necessary to hold such programmes to create awareness against tobacco use. As far as the law is concered we are trying to implement it and penalise people as well," Yoganand Shastri, Delhi state health minister, said.

The ban is being implemented under the new Anti-Smoking Act, which was passed by parliament last year.

The new law besides barring smoking in buses, restaurants and trains, also prohibits mass media advertising of tobacco products except at the selling points. Violators would be fined 200 rupees if caught.

Though the fine might be a detterent for the lower-strata smokers like rickshaw pullers, labourers and coolies, it has had little effect on the urbane smokers, who are the largest consumers.

In metros, smokers and tobacco chewers openly flout the law, some even terming it as ridiculous.

Moreover, previous such attempts have not yielded desired results due to general disregard of public health and poor law enforcement.