A recent study conducted by two consumer agencies to determine the extent of tobacco products being marketed in and around the schools in Dibrugarh exposed the shocking truth of tobacco menace targeting young children.
The
findings of the study titled, “Big Tobacco Tiny Targets” carried out by
Consumer Voice or Voluntary Organisation in Interest of Consumer
Education and Consumers’ Legal Protection Forum (CLPF) revealed that the
multinational tobacco companies are illegally selling tobacco products
in and around schools in the state.
CLPF Assam along with Consumer
Voice organized a stakeholders’ workshop here in Hotel Kettekee today
to release the findings of a new report that revealed tobacco companies
are systematically targeting children as young as eight years old in
Dibrugarh by selling tobacco products and placing tobacco advertisements
near schools premises.
These egregious tactics, used by companies
like British American Tobacco, Imperial Tobacco or Indian Tobacco
Company (ITC), Philip Morris (Godfrey Philips) are clear violation of
Section 5 and 6 of Cigarettes & Other Tobacco Products Act.
Despite
the prohibition on sales of tobacco products near educational
institutions, numerous shops/vendors/points of sale sell & advertise
tobacco products around schools.
Consumer Voice and Consumers’ Legal Protection Forum, Assam undertook this study in Guwahati, Jorhat and Dibrugarh.
This
study titled, “Big Tobacco Tiny Targets” was conducted to determine the
extent of tobacco products being marketed and sold around schools in
State.
A total sample of 34 schools and 48 points of sale were closely surveyed during this study in Dibrugarh.
Sharing
the key findings of the study Hridaya Pankaj Das, Regional Coordinator,
CLPF says nearly half of the vendors around schools sell tobacco
products.
Investigators observed 34 points of sale selling tobacco products out of the 48 surveyed around schools.
Street and mobile vendors were the most common form of vendors at 71% of the 34 tobacco points of sale observed.
Multinational tobacco companies sell tobacco products around schools.
Investigators
documented that, of the 34 tobacco points of sale observed, 82% carried
ITC brands and 53% carried Phillip Morris. Vendors advertise tobacco
products around schools.
Investigators observed tobacco
advertising at 59% of the 34 tobacco points of sale observed. Vendors
sell cigarettes and bidis via single sticks, making these products cheap
and accessible to children and youths.
Investigators observed single stick sales in 82% of the 34 tobacco points of sale observed.
Vendors
display tobacco products in ways that are appealing to children and
youth. Investigators documented that, of the 34 tobacco points of sale
observed, 53% of displays were at 1 metre – which is at a child’s eye
level; 56% of the points of sale had no visible health warning; and 38%
of displays were beside candy, sweets and toys – items marketed to
children.
There was a panel discussion on ‘saving young generation
from exposure to tobacco products & their use’ where Riktom
Borgohain, District Nodal Officer, Tobacco Control Cell, Dibrugarh;
Iqbal Ahmed, Senior Reporter, The Sentinel; Prakash Sarmah, Officer –
In-charge, Dibrugarh Sadar Thana; Dr Sashi Kanta Saikia, Principal, DHSK
College, Dibrugarh gave their valuable suggestions on the issue.
Udayan
Baruah, Joint Director of Health Services, Dibrugarh spoke on the “Role
of restricting tobacco sales to young people: Policy Advisory on Vendor
Licensing.”
All speakers emphasized on urgent action from the
Government agencies to stop tobacco companies from targeting children by
aggressive advertising & selling tobacco products around schools
and stricter enforcement of COTPA rules prohibiting the selling and
advertising of tobacco products within 100 yards of educational
institutions.
