Shopkeepers in the state have been directed to remove all illicit tobacco advertisements by June 15 or face punitive action. “An order to this effect has been issued by the Health Dept to coincide with the World No Tobacco Day’s theme of ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship,” said A S Pradeep Kumar, Additional Director of Health Services and nodal officer for Tobacco Control in Kerala.
“Section 5 of COTPA prohibits display of brand pack shots and brand names of the tobacco products in the point-of-sale boards and allows for only listing the type of tobacco products. The law also mandates that health warnings in the applicable Indian language reading ‘Tobacco causes cancer’ or ‘Tobacco kills’ should be written prominently, measuring 20 x 15 cm, in black with a white background on the top edge of the board,” he said.
Kumar was speaking at a press conference organised in connection with the World No Tobacco Day events conducted jointly by Directorate of Health Services; Shri Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology; RCC; Regional Cancer Association; Tobacco Free Kerala; ADIC-India and Kerala Voluntary Health Services. The CM will inaugurate the World No Tobacco Day event at Achutha Menon Centre for Health Science Studies Auditorium on May 31 at 11 a m. “Technical sessions highlighting the role and commitment of education, health, police, film and media in tobacco control, moderated by Rajeev Sadanandan, Principal Secretary, Health & Family Welfare will follow,” Kumar said.
Effective implementation of Indian tobacco control law - COTPA- emerged as the main point of discussion in a talk show on ‘Free Kerala from Tobacco’ anchored by Sreejith N Kumar, Chairman, IMA, State Research Cell. Earlier in the day, noted literary personality, George Onakkoor inaugurated a poster painting competition for school children.
Around 50 school students, aged between 5 to 15 years, divided into sections of lower primary, upper primary and high school, creatively crafted posters on their vision for creating a Kerala free from tobacco.
The CM will give away the prizes to the first three winners of the three levels at the inaugural event of World No Tobacco Day on Friday.
In lower primary level, Adeep Salu of Nirmala Bhavan won the first prize and second prize was bagged by Anit Salu of Nirmala Bhavan. The third prize was shared by Ekalavian A, MMRHS and Akshay V A, Nazarath Home. In the upper primary level, Abinlal S R, K V Sap emerged first; Sandra V S won the second position and Pranav Pradeep, Govt HS Avanavancheri came third.