The tobacco industry has been using covert ways to disrupt public health policies, and there is a conflicting mandate within government," opined Upendra Bhojani, member, Consortium for Tobacco Control, Karnataka.
To create awareness on tobacco and to advocate for strong tobacco control measures, the District Anti Tobacco Cell, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, is organising a workshop on May 31, on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day (WNTD).
"The Health Ministry is taking measures to curb tobacco menace, while the Commerce Ministry is promoting tobacco trade and industry development through the Indian Tobacco Board. The state government in the last budget, raised taxes on cigarettes and beedis, but rolled back the prices later," Bhojani said.
He said ITC was the biggest player in cigarette industry in India.