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ITC chief suggests wider debate on tobacco products regulation bill

Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad

Yogi C Deveshwar, chairman of ITC, India's largest cigarette company, has suggested a 'larger debate' before the enactment of the Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation) Bill proposed by the Indian government.

Deveshwar, who was in Hyderabad in connection with the launching of the company's Web site for aqua farmers, told newsmen in an informal chat on Wednesday that "there is a need for larger debate before the final enactment comes through."

Asked for comment on the Union Cabinet's decision to put a ban on all forms of tobacco advertisements and sponsorship of sporting and cultural events by cigarette companies as well as a ban on smoking in public places, the ITC chief reacted cautiously, saying "we have to examine the bill and assess what will be its implications."

"We wholeheartedly support the government's initiative but we want it should be practical, orderly and progressive," he said and pointed out that the ITC had stopped advertising on the TV five years ago through there was no regulation in force.

"However, we favour regulations which are relevant and fit into reality," he added.

To a query whether a ban on sponsorship of sports and cultural events by cigarette companies would have any impact, Deveshwar quipped "if we don't sponsor these things, somebody else would sponsor."

Ironically, only 16 per cent of the tobacco produced in the country was used for manufacture of cigarettes and bidis.

The remaining 84 per cent tobacco was consumed in other ways like chewing. It was important how the government was planning to regulate the other uses of tobacco.

"A meaningful debate on how to regulate consumption of tobacco (in all forms) is necessary. There is need to be practical where interests of people and industry are to be taken care of," he suggested.

He said that certain foreign brands of cigarettes are advertised in TV channels beamed to India. What would the government do about them since there is no regulatory mechanism for such things?

Moreover, a huge quantity of cigarettes was smuggled into India. Foreign cigarettes would continue to be smuggled in, at the cost of the Indian industry.

"If the government legislation comes through, it will mean displacement of lot of people," he pointed out.

The ITC chairman said that 80 percent of the human diseases were water-borne.

"Water is one area which should be taken care of. If we provide potable water, we can take care of large number of diseases. In the western countries, however, where water, housing and other civic amenities are provided, no such problems existed. "They can address things like smoking hazards," he quipped.

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