Some health professionals, research scientists and NGOs have formed Advocacy Forum for Tobacco Control (AFTC) to support the Tobacco Control Bill due to be tabled in Parliament shortly by the Union minister of health and family welfare, Sushma Swaraj.
The Bill is designed to control tobacco supply and demand, consumption and advertising, a release issued by AFTC said.
The Bill aims at total ban on advertising of tobacco products, sponsorship of sports and cultural events either directly or indirectly and sale of tobacco products to minors.
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It would require a new warning on cigarette packs carried more prominently in terms of liability, language, colour and display. Nicotine and tar content will have to be specified, the release added.
AFTC members include Dr. P C Gup.ta of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Ms. Alka Kapadia of the Cancer Patients Aid Association of Mumbai and Ahmedabad-based Manubhai Shah, managing trustee of Consumer Education and Research Centre.
In March, World Health Organisation had agreed upon the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
The Indian Bill has many provisions similar to FCTC. The impact of tobacco could be alarming in India, with one billion cigarettes currently being smoked everyday.
Recent research by Tata Institute of Fundamental Research reveals there are 700,000-900,000 cancer cases in India per year, with estimated 250,000 cases being tobacco related, said AFTC. Total excise from tobacco cultivation in India was Rs 6,934 crore in 1999-2000.