[Intl-tobacco] India: Smoking in public places to be banned (fwd)

[Robert Weissman]

Smoking in public places to be banned
Source: Rediff on the Net, Tuesday, 9/5/00

Union Health and Family Welfare Minister C P Thakur said Tuesday the
government would bring in a legislation by the year end banning smoking in
public places all over the country.

Addressing a joint press conference with World Health Organisation
Director General Dr Harlem Brundtland, Dr Thakur said the move was part of
a holistic attempt by the government to fight tobacco-related diseases.

He expressed concern at the growing trend of consuming tobacco in various
forms. "This needs to be discouraged," he said.

To begin with, the government, he said, was contemplating to declare
certain buildings as smoking-free zones. Nirman Bhawan, which houses the
health ministry, will be among the first to be brought under this
category.

Dr Brundtland said at least half of the people addicted to tobacco die of
its ill-effects. "We need a strong movement against this public health
disaster,"  she said.