The government plan to allow rolling beedi and cigarette units in Hamirpur district has not gone down well with all in the state. HP Voluntary Health Association, an NGO in the forefront of anti-tobacco campaign in the state, has decided to opposed it.
"This is unacceptable. On one hand, government supports a tobacco free society and on the other, it is has approved a tobacco unit recently," said HPVHA president PR Ramesh. "We will not allow the gains made over the last few years to wither away," added Sirinivas Joshi, a consultant with the organization. Expressing his disappointment at chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal's claim that he was unable to launch a state-wide smoke-free campaign, he said even the World Health Organization has recognized their work in the field of anti-tobacco. "In July, HPVHA was the only one (NGO) in the country to be awarded by WHO for its drive for a smoke free society," he claimed.
After learning about the government's approval for tobacco manufacturing unit for the region, "we have reached out to officers and lawmakers for withdrawing the permission", he said.
The NGO has also released a baseline survey report about smoke-free places in the state, conducted at all district headquarters.
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