Notice to govt on tobacco ads on buses

PJ Joychen / TNN / Aug 7, 2008, 05:32 IST

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Demanding a ban on such advertisements, the complainants pointed out that the display of tobacco advertisements on auto-rickshaws and buses are against the state objectives of public health.

JAIPUR: Taking a serious note of tobacco advertisements in state transport buses and government properties, the Rajasthan Human Rights Commission has issued a notice to the government.
The Commission issued the notice on the basis of complaints filed by Asthma Care Society and Rajasthan Voluntary Health Association.
Notices were issued to principal secretary, home and the managing director of Road Transport Corporation by Commission chairman Justice NK Jain.
Demanding a ban on such advertisements, the complainants pointed out that the display of tobacco advertisements on auto-rickshaws and buses are against the state objectives of public health. They pointed out that the Roadways buses carry the advertisements of Mahak Super gutka, which is a tobacco product.

The complainants argued that the surrogate advertisement by the Gutka propagates consumption of tobacco along with the socially relevant slogan of 'Pani Bachao, Bijli Bachao' which indirectly gives the impression that along with saving water and power, they had to chew gutka.
It stands against the government's efforts to control tobacco consumption. "The government on the one hand, observes anti-tobacco day to discourage tobacco consumption while on the other, the government-owned buses carry such advertisements that defeat the purpose of such campaign," they said.

They pointed out that such advertisements have a major impact on the people, especially the children in their impressionable age groups. They pointed out that the display on government buses and government property more than anything else gives a kind of legitimacy to the product which has to be avoided, keeping in mind the public health.
The commission asked the respondents to present the facts and action taken report by September 3.

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