PANAJI
The National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE) India has written to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to issue directions to remove all pan masala advertisement on KTC buses and at other public places.
In a memorandum written to the Chief Minister, NOTE India national president Dr Shekhar Salkar highlighted that multiple surrogate tobacco advertisements are circulated in public domain by cigarette and tobacco companies.
He said the blatant advertisements on KTC buses and also huge dubious hoardings on the banks of Mandovi River are a major embarrassment to a state like Goa which is known to roll out exemplary health schemes.
He has requested the CM to issue appropriate directions to relevant departments to identify and withdraw all such surrogate advertisements and also put in place necessary injunctions to refrain government departments from engaging private companies promoting surrogate advertising of products having adverse effect on health.
Dr Salkar also stated that the latest Goa State Survey done by GATS 2019 indicates that smokeless tobacco consumption has been increased especially in rural areas and such surrogate advertising has been largely attributed to this trend.
He was confident that Sawant, himself being a doctor, would address the issue and take swift action.
