Pictorial warnings on beedi packs can be postponed: Ramadoss

New Delhi, Dec 15 (UNI) Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss today offered to postpone by four months, till the end of May 2007, the mandatory provision for beedi manufacturers to carry the pictorial warning of skull and crossed bones on beedi packets.

Responding to a call attention moved by TDP member K Yerran Naidu and four others on the problems of beedi workers, Dr Ramadoss said the present practice of carrying a warning ''smoking is injurious to health'' had proved to be of little use in weaning away students and others from beedi and cigarette.

On the other hand, pictorial warnings were found to be effective in prompting smokers to kick their habit in Europe, Australia, Canada and several other countries, the Minister said.

Labour Minister Oscar Fernandes said the government had recently launched several welfare programmes for beedi workers, including issue of identity cards, housing and educational scholarship. The government was committed to doing everything possible to improve the lot of beedi workers, he said.

Carrying of pictorial warnings was part of a law enacted in 2003 and under the international Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, to which India was a signatory.

Further, tobacco consumption accounted for 40 per cent of health problems in the country and as such discouraging people from smoking was necessary, Dr Ramadoss said.

The Minister's offer to defer the implementation of pictorial warning provision came in the wake of demands for summary withdrawal of the notification in the interest of lakhs of beedi workers.

UNI SN MSJ DB1326