Karnataka’s municipal bodies barred from engaging with tobacco firms on public campaigns

Bengaluru: Karnataka’s Municipal Administration department has asked all municipal bodies not to accept any sponsorship from or collaborate with tobacco firms on public projects or campaigns.
The notification from the Municipal Administration department follows a direction from the Centre to all states to draw up a code of conduct for government bodies and officials with regard to their relationship with tobacco companies so that the latter don’t influence the policies.

According to Dr US Vishal Rao, the cancer specialist who has been leading the anti-tobacco campaign, Karnataka is among the earliest states to take cognisance of the importance of Article 5.3 of frame convention alliance (FCA), a World Health Organisation initiative to control public consumption of tobacco. The Ministry of Health has taken a big step towards advising tobacco control and also setting a precedent for other states who could follow this step.

It was critical that government bodies and officials totally disengage themselves with the tobacco industry as they will use their funding to public projects and campaigns to build their brand, and create a positive image in the minds of the youth, Dr Rao said. Recently, a city corporation in the state collaborated with a tobacco firm to launch its green city campaign, he added.