| Smoking banned |
Compiled by Moumita Das
The current ban on smoking has witnessed several hiccups from all quarters foiling even the bollywood industry. In the beginning of the year Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss urged Bollywood stars Amitabh Bachchan and Shahrukh Khan to desist from smoking in their films. He urged this keeping in mind that films are the most responsible and inspiring media for encouraging smoking. So it should not have smoking scenes as the Government bore statistics which showed that 52% of children have their first puff of a cigarette, influenced by movie celebrities. Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan however retaliated by taking dig at Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss for the latter’s quit-smoking-on-screen appeal to him, saying he does not like anyone telling him what to do and what not to do in an interview to a news Channel.
Finally ban was imposed on Smoking with effect from 2 nd of October this year. The ban includes offices and restaurants, schools and colleges, pubs and discotheques, hospitals and bus stops. Offenders were to be bracketed under a fine of 200 rupees (USD 4), ironically while on an average, a packet of cigarettes costs around 50 rupees. Ban of smoking was the government’s second try in four years and came on the occasion of the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, who did not smoke or drink. |
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