Issue 10
Tobacco Control in India
Fortnightly News Summary
NATIONAL HEADLINES
♦ When Lalu Prasad realised chewing khaini is a 'bad
habit'
The spotlessly clean railway stations in Japan put
Railways Minister Lalu Prasad in a bit of a spot - he
couldn't find a place to spit the red juice of khaini, a
tobacco mixture he loves to chew, and realized it had
become a "bad habit". 'I realised chewing khaini had
become a bad habit during my recent visit to Japan,' Lalu
Prasad said here Friday. (Source: Yahoo News: 24 January 2009)
♦ India tobacco exports surge 46 pct in Apr-Dec
India's tobacco exports surged 46 percent to $543.6
million in first nine months of fiscal 2008/09, as output
cuts in Europe forced overseas buyers to source more
produce from the country, a senior official said. (Source:
Reuters India: 29 January 2009)
♦ Tobacco stubbing out in public, govt to demarcate
special zones for smokers
Almost four months into the ban on smoking in public
places, the Delhi government plans to take it a step
forward by demarcating space for smoking and no-
smoking in public areas such as restaurants, pubs and
airport lounges. The guidelines, which government
officials say are as per international standards, are set to
be implemented in time for the Commonwealth Games in
2010. (Source: Indian Express: 28 January 2009)
♦ Further dilution of pictorial tobacco warnings feared
The Group of Ministers (GoM) in India will again meet to
assuage concerns of tobacco lobby on pictorial warnings,
health activists apprehend. This group of ministers (GoM)
consists of: Pranab Mukherjee (External Affairs Minister),
Kamal Nath (Commerce and Industry Minister),
Priyaranjan Dasmunsi (former Information and
Broadcasting Minister), S Jaipal Reddy (Urban
Development Minister), Dr Anbumani Ramadoss (Health
and family welfare Minister), and Oscar Fernandes (labour
and employment Minister for state). (Source: Thai-Indian News:
23 January 2009)
♦ Tobacco exports jump 13% on global demand
Tobacco shipment from India, the third-largest exporter in
the world, surged by 61% to Rs 2,428 crore till December
2008 on better price realizations and weakening rupee
against the dollar. Prices of tobacco skyrocketed to a
record average of Rs 84.85 per kg during auctions in
Andhra Pradesh in 2008 against Rs 47.47 the previous
year.
(Source: The Economic Times: 26 January 2009)
♦ After months of smoking ban, Chhattisgarh yet to
file a case
Chhattisgarh police, yet to register a maiden case against
a smoker even after three months of ban on smoking in
public places, say they have more serious jobs in hand in
the Maoist insurgency-hit state.Top officers at the police
headquarters here said the state police, having a strength
of nearly 40,000 personnel for nearly 20.08 million
Provided by the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use
17-30 January 2009
population, were still looking for the first case against a
smoker. (Source: IANS: 16 December 2008)
STATE HEADLINES, Tamil Nadu
♦ Mass campaign required to be launched against
tobacco
A mass campaign is required to be launched on national
level for creating awareness among the youth especially
the poor persons against the use of tobacco and its
products for better health care of the society. This was
stated by the Haryana Governor, A.R.Kidwai during two-
day National Advocacy Workshop on "Tobacco Control
Laws and Related Issues in India" organised by the
Tobacco Cessation Centre (TCC), Department of
Psychiatry, PGIMER, Chandigarh, here on Friday. (Source:
The Hindu Business Line, Chennai, Tamil Nadu: 19 January 2009)
♦ Up in cigarette prices to keep smokers at bay
In an effort to keep youth away from smoking, the UAE's
national tobacco control team will propose prohibitive
pricing for cigarettes. The price of cigarettes could more
than quadruple under a proposal from the National
Tobacco Control Team in the United Arab Emirates, Abu
Dhabi's The National newspaper has reported. Dr Wedad
Al Maidoor, the head of the Ministry of Health's Tobacco
Control Team, said she has prepared a plan to raise the
price of cigarettes between $5.4 and $13.6 a packet.
(Source: The Hindu Business Line, Chennai, Tamil Nadu: 19 January
2009)
♦ India to have uniform guideline for cancer treatment
The country also faces problems like tobacco-related oral
cancer, head and neck cancer and the uterine cervical
cancer like all developing countries. "We need innovative
solutions which are affordable using low technology.
(Source: The Hindu, Chennai, Tamil Nadu: 23 January 2009)
♦ Campaign against use of tobacco
They were not blind. But they got themselves blindfolded
and proceeded towards Dhandayuthapaniswamy Temple
on the hill here. Also, they had not come for a devout
purpose. Their mission: to make pilgrims aware of the ill-
effects of using tobacco products and resultant cancer.
(Source: The Hindu, Chennai, Tamil Nadu: 23 January 2009)
♦ Tobacco exports rise 61 pc on high prices
Tobacco shipment from India, the third-largest exporter in
the world, surged by 61 per cent to Rs 2,428 crore till
December this fiscal on better price realization and
weakening rupee against the US dollar. "India exported
tobacco worth Rs 2,428.65 crore between April and
December against Rs 1,508.51 crore in the same period
last year. (Source: The Hindu, Chennai, Tamil Nadu: 23 January 2009)
♦ Golden tobacco to consider raising funds
Golden Tobacco Ltd has announced that a meeting of the
Board of Directors of the Company will be held on
January 17, 2009, inter alia, to consider the proposal for
raising of finances for the Company's Real Estate
Business. The stock closed the day at Rs.51.75, up by
Rs.0.80 or 1.57%. The stock hit an intraday high of
 Issue 10
Rs.52.50 and low of Rs.50.85. The total traded quantity
was 50705 compared to 2 week average of 29941. (Source:
The Hindu, Chennai, Tamil Nadu: 23 January 2009)

Provided by the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use