एस.एम.एस हॉटलाइन

एस.एम.एस हॉटलाइन

नि:शुल्क टी.बी सहयोग सेवा

# ९९७१० ४३३२०

टीबी रोगियों के लिये, भूतपूर्व टीबी रोगियों द्वारा

सलाह चाहिए? मदद चाहिए? सहयोग चाहिए?

मात्र एक अंग्रेज़ी या हिन्दी में एस।एम.एस भेज कर, गोपनीय एवं विश्ववस्नीय सहायता के लिये हमें जब चाहे संपर्क करें. एस.एम.एस मिलते ही हम आपको संपर्क करेंगे.

बुद्धिमानी से काम लें: अपने अधिकारों के बारे में जानें और अपनी जिम्मेदारियों को निर्वाह करें. पेशेंट्स चार्टर को पढ़ें: www.tbcindia.org/documents.asp

वर्ल्ड केयर काउंसिल
टीबी रोगियों की देखभाल के मानकों को बढ़ाने के लिये समर्पित
info@worldcarecouncil.org

India embraces smoke-free policies on Gandhi’s birth anniversary

India embraces smoke-free policies on Gandhi’s birth anniversary

To listen to this article as English audio podcast, click here

To read this article in Hindi language, click here

India has boldly enforced the smoke-free policies banning smoking in public places and private areas with public access from 2 October 2008 – the birth anniversary of the father of nation Mahatma Gandhi.

The government of India and countless people who have been advocating the enforcement of public health policies need due credit. It was certainly not so easy, more so because of the financially robust, strategically shrewd tobacco industry that has mastered the art of circumventing public interest policies and promoting a product (tobacco) that kills even when used as intended by the manufacturer.

The tobacco industry, and other corporations or associations like ITC ltd, Indian Hotel Association and others, filed more than 70 court cases against the ban on smoking in public places from October 2. But the honorable Supreme Court declined to delay the enforcement of these public interest policies and upheld public health over corporate profits.

India with more than a billion people had a large number of people who smoke cigarettes or beedis (tobacco rolled in ‘tendu’ leaf). The benefit of smoke-free policies will certainly protect non-smokers from the dangerous exposure to tobacco smoke, which is called secondhand smoke.

Secondhand smoke, also know as environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), is a mixture of the smoke given off by the burning end of a cigarette, pipe or cigar and the smoke exhaled from the lungs of smokers. It is involuntarily inhaled by nonsmokers, lingers in the air hours after cigarettes have been extinguished and can cause or exacerbate a wide range of adverse health effects, including cancer, respiratory infections, and asthma. Secondhand smoke has been classified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a known cause of cancer in humans (Group A carcinogen).

Secondhand smoke exposure causes disease and premature death in children and adults who do not smoke. Nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke at work are at increased risk for adverse health effects.

Not only non-smokers get the benefit of smoke-free policies, but also those who smoke are either smoking lesser cigarettes or they quit smoking, according to the studies. At least 4% of smokers are likely to quit smoking.

However enforcing the public health policies will largely bank on the meaningful participation of civil society – at every step. People need to be at the centre-stage if India is to realize enforcement of these policies. And this certainly will happen over a period of time, as awareness increases, perceptions change as people are informed and the benefits of enforcing public health policies in our own homes, offices and other places we spend our lives in, become pronounced.

October 2 is indeed a beginning for India. Let us hope that India is able to set a good precedent where civil society does join hands with governments to enforce public interest policies effectively.

Bollywood filmstars should 'beedi bujhaye le' otherwise face legal action

Bollywood filmstars should 'beedi bujhaye le' otherwise face legal action

Despite of the India's legally-binding Cigarette and Other tobacco products Act (2003) and repeated appeals of India's Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Anbumani Ramadoss to bollywood film-stars to refrain from on-screen smoking, there seems to be less compliance in the guise of 'creative liberty'.

On 30 June 2008, the Goa Bench of Mumbai High Court issued notice to megastar 'Big B' - Amitabh Bachchan - and others for allegedly violating the Anti-Tobacco Act. Goa-based anti-tobacco organisation, National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE), had filed the case against Bachchan and others after billboards showing the megastar smoking a cigar were raised on the Goa highway. Indian Society Against Smoking (ISAS) had also earlier served a legal notice to Amitabh Bachchan through Manu Shresth Mishra, a High Court lawyer practicing in Lucknow, UP. The court, which heard the case on 30 June 2008, issued notice to Bachchan, Anchor Electric appliances, Keshu Ramsay and others.

Two weeks earlier in June 2008, bollywood actor and heart-throb Aamir Khan had confessed on his blog (www.aamirkhan.com) that due to stress he has once again given in to the temptation of smoking. He had said that his nephew Imraan's launch pad 'Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na' is the reason behind the stress. "I've begun smoking again, I know you guys are going to kick the shit out of me, my family is already doing that," he had written on his blog: www.aamirkhan.com .

Indian film-star Aamir Khan's explanation of 'stress' as a reason to smoke, is not a reasonable one. Enough body of evidence exists linking tobacco use with life-threatening diseases and disabilities. Moreover public statements, on websites, about smoking by Aamir Khan due to 'stress' will encourage the perception specially among children and youth to begin tobacco use to beat their 'stress'.

Earlier in May -- June 2008, the Hindustan Times had carried a front-page photograph of the 'King Khan' Shahrukh Khan, another bollywood actor, who was found smoking in full public view at the much-hyped Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match series.

Tobacco is reported to kill more than a million people in India alone every year.

"One of the easiest ways to significantly bring down number of children and youth who get initiated to tobacco use in India, without any budgetary allocation for this public health exercise, is to remove depiction of tobacco use in films and TV", had rightly said Dr Ramadoss at the last World Conference on Tobacco or Health in USA.

One of the major influences on the uptake of teen tobacco use is the glamourisation of tobacco use in movies and on television. This has been well documented by comprehensive research studies in India and US. On-screen or smoking in public view by bollywood film-stars will influence young minds to smoke.

In an earlier study done by World Health Organization and Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2003 it was revealed that 76% of Indian movies had tobacco use shown in them. In 1991, where 22% of top box office movie hits had lead characters using tobacco on-screen, in 2002, this escalated to 53% tobacco use depiction by lead characters in Indian movies. This study also demonstrated that 52.2% of children in India who had their first smoke were influenced by tobacco use depicted in movies.

A repeat follow-up study conducted by WHO and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in India on top box office movie hits during 2004-2005 demonstrated that tobacco use depiction in movies has become more aggressive as compared to previous years. During 2004-2005, 89% of all movies analyzed contained tobacco use on screen and 75.5% movies depicted leading stars using tobacco on screen. Moreover 41% of movies screened had clear and distinct tobacco brand placement.

Dr Ramadoss says categorically that stopping depiction of tobacco use in films is an evidence based public health measure, and that is what he has been strongly advocating since May 31, 2005.

India, says Dr Ramadoss, has the world's largest film industry rolling out over 900 films per year. Through cinema theatres, these movies reach 60 million people and through cable television network, they further reach another 70 million people in India. "Influence of cinema is paramount in India" says Dr Ramadoss.

The Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act 2003 came into existence since 31 May 2003. Before the Bollywood film-stars, just like any other citizen of India, who if found violating the provisions of the anti-tobacco Act, become likely to be penalized as per the existing legal framework, it is in the interest of the public health and individual's own interests to quit tobacco use and chose health!

Exposure to tobacco use in movies is clearly linked to youth tobacco use. Simply put, more must be done to ensure that tobacco use in movies is removed from films seen by our nation's youth. We have within our power one simple and effective way to jump start the decline in youth tobacco use - delete tobacco use in films from the list of influences that rob our youth of longer and healthier lives by removing tobacco use from movies, unless they clearly depict the negative health effects.

The influence of film-stars on the youth is paramount and it will be more helpful if they debunk the misconceptions about smoking.

ITC undermines pro-people policies: UP Govt suspends license

ITC undermines pro-people policies: UP Govt suspends license

This posting is based on The Times of India news published on 8 June 2008, to read the news, click here

Tobacco corporations across the world have not only been aggressively protecting and promoting their business markets, particularly in the developing countries, but also trying their best to either abort or weaken the public policies that begin to take shape in countries around the world.

The ITC's license to purchase 500,000 metric tonnes of wheat directly from the farmers in Uttar Pradesh (UP) state was suspended till 30 June 2008 by UP state government.

Despite of a UP government's cabinet order not to purchase wheat till 30 June 2008 during the 'Rabi' crop harvesting season, and another state government's order on 25 May 2008 which fixes stock limit for traders, ITC could manage to get a license issued from Agriculture department of UP government on 30 May 2008 to purchase 500,000 metric tonnes of wheat directly from the farmers. When the leading English newspaper The Times of India exposed this on 6 June 2008, the state government was left with no choice but come out clean - and suspend the license of ITC till June 30 (in accordance with earlier government orders and cabinet decision).

"Corporations are notorious to indulge in political lobbying and all measures to safeguard their markets, with blatant disregard to public interest and welfare" said Dr Sandeep Pandey, Convener of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) and Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (2002).

In present times when food crisis is looming large over India, it is particularly of critical significance that governments put a check on these corporations.

Scaling up of MPOWER tobacco control strategies is vital

Scaling up of MPOWER tobacco control strategies is vital

To read the article in Urdu language, click here

To read the article in Hindi language, click here


All countries in the world need to scale up the cost-effective, proven and WHO recommended strategies to reduce the number of deaths attributed to tobacco use. The World Health Statistics Report (2008) of WHO released 10 days before this year's World No Tobacco Day (31 May) ups the urgency to scale up quality interventions to control tobacco use.

About half of all countries in the world implement none of the recommended tobacco control policies, despite the fact that tobacco control measures are cost-effective and proven. Moreover, not more than 5% of the world's population is fully covered by any one of these measures.

World Health Statistics Report (2008) had further confirmed that heart disease, obesity, and tobacco use were among the leading causes of deaths worldwide. The number of deaths from non-communicable chronic conditions, the risk to which is exacerbated by tobacco use, is alarmingly rising far more than the number of deaths from communicable diseases like HIV, TB or Malaria.

The single most preventable cause of death world wide, the report stated, is tobacco use. Tobacco use has been found to kill one-third to one-half of its users, according to this report.

Earlier in February 2008, WHO had released the World Tobacco Epidemic Report which underlines not only the evidence-based fact that tobacco epidemic is worsening but also recommends a comprehensive package of six-effective tobacco control policies - clubbed as 'MPOWER' that have demonstrated results in helping countries stop the diseases, deaths and economic damages caused by tobacco use.

The MPOWER package includes:

M: stands for 'monitor' tobacco use and prevention policies. Assessment of tobacco use and its impact must be strengthened.

P: stands for 'protect' people from tobacco smoke. All people have a fundamental right to breathe clean air. Smoke-free places are essential to protect non-smokers and also to encourage smokers to quit.

O: stands for 'offer' help to quit tobacco use. Services to treat tobacco dependence are fully available in only nine countries with 5% of the world's population. Countries must establish programmes providing low-cost, effective interventions for tobacco users who want to quit.

W: stands for 'warn' about the dangers of tobacco use. Despite conclusive evidence, relatively few tobacco users understand the full extent of their health risk. Graphic warnings on tobacco packaging deter tobacco use, yet only 15 countries, representing 6% of the world's population, mandate pictorial warnings (covering at least 30% of the principal surface area) and just five countries with a little over 4% of the world's people, meet the highest standards for pack warnings. More than 40% of the world's population lives in countries that do not prevent use of misleading and deceptive terms such as 'light' and 'low tar'.

E: stands for 'enforce' bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. Partial bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, do not work because the industry merely redirects its resources to other non-regulated marketing channels. Only a total ban can reduce tobacco consumption and protect people, particularly youth, from industry marketing tactics. Only 5% of the world's population currently lives in countries with comprehensive bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.

R: stands for 'raised' taxes on tobacco. Raising taxes and therefore prices, is the most effective way to reduce tobacco use, and especially to discourage young people from using tobacco. Only 4 countries, representing 2% of the world's population, have tax rates greater than 75% of retail price.

"Reversing this entirely preventable epidemic must now rank as a top priority for public health and for political leaders in every country of the world" said Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of the WHO in the summary.

However the global tobacco epidemic stands starkly apart from other conventional disease control programmes because of an aggressive tobacco industry that is hell-bent on protecting and expanding its markets globally, particularly in the developing countries of Asia and Africa. Tobacco corporations across the world have not only been aggressively protecting and promoting their tobacco markets, particularly in the developing countries, but also trying their best to either abort or weaken the public health policies that begin to take shape in countries around the world.

"Big Tobacco's interference in health policy is one of the greatest threats to the treaty's implementation and enforcement. Philip Morris/Altria, British American Tobacco (BAT) and Japan Tobacco (JT) use their political influence to weaken, delay and defeat tobacco control legislation around the world. While the industry claims to have changed its ways, it continues to use sophisticated methods to undermine meaningful legislation" had said Kathy Mulvey of Corporate Accountability International at the recent meeting last year on the global tobacco treaty - the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

The alert monitoring of tobacco corporations and holding them accountable for violating existing health policies will further boost the impact of the WHO's recommended MPOWER package in reducing tobacco use globally.

Published in

Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh, India

The Nation, Dhaka, Bangladesh

American Chronicle, USA

Scoop Independent News, New Zealand

Daily Dispatch, South Africa

Thai Indian, Thailand / India

Freedom for Media, Nepal

News Blaze, USA

California Chronicle, USA

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta, Indonesia

The Nation, Bangkok, Thailand

The Times of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia

The Seoul Times, Seoul, South Korea

Malaysia Sun, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The Brunei Times, Brunei Darussalam

India News, Delhi, India

New Kerala News, Kerala, India

Thai Indian Commentary IANS

Two Circles. Net

Sulekha News

AOL News

The Siyasat Daily (English and Urdu), Hyderabad, India

India News, Bangalore, India

Big News Network, India

Santa Monica Chronicle, USA

Boloji.Com

Kanglaonline.Com

India Forums. com

Democracy weeps in Nandigram

Democracy weeps in Nandigram

NHRC and NCW urged to act

"The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) must take immediate cognizance of the violations in Nandigram and recommend stringent penal action against all those involved, including instituting an inquiry into the involvement of the CPI (M) leadership and cadres in the planning/abetment/execution of the crimes committed" demanded firebrand activist and leader of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) Medha Patkar.

"The National Commission for Women must immediately constitute a fact-finding delegation that must visit Nandigram and submit its Report to the NHRC and also direct immediate payment of compensation to all the women raped and all others injured" further stressed Patkar.

On 18 April 2008, known members of Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI (M)] and armed members of Hamad Vahini Party from Khejuri, leashed another wave of barbaric violence, gang-rape and loot in Nandigram, West Bengal, India.

Nandigram gained the spotlight in early 2007 when state government in collusion with private corporations was trying to forcibly evict farmers from arable land, and resorted to one of the most heinous ways to serve the private corporations, all in the sake of development. The outrage on this massacre by the state authorities of poor farmers in the interest of private companies was paramount globally.

"On 18 April 2008, CPI (M) members attacked the house of Radha Rani and Pratap Ari, threw Pratap Ari in the tank nearby and gang-raped Radha Rani Ari for the second time, in her own house" said Debjeet Shrikant from Bhumi Uchhed Pratirodh Committee (BUPC), Nandigram.

Radharani Ari is one of the women at the forefront of the Nandigram struggle. Coming from a dalit landless family, supported by Pratap Ari (her husband), she has always vehemently protested against the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) chemical hub project and giving away the land, houses, nature, and culture of Nandigram. She is one of the most articulate and courageous women in Nandigram and has also strengthened pro-people movements in Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Maharashtra during the Nandigram-Narmada- Gorai Jaththa.

Narmada Sheet, another very committed and outspoken woman from Sonachura and Mona Pramanik were also brutally attacked. Few men have been missing since that ill-fated night last week.

Radha Rani, Pratap, Narmada Sheet and some others are admitted in the Nandigram Hospital while rest of them, are admitted in Tamluk hospital.

At least 20 houses have been attacked since then, houses destroyed and belongings looted, making more than 100 members of the families homeless. These people are presently being supported by the BUPC.

These atrocious incidents had occurred in Gokul Nagar, Sonachura, Gadhchakrabedia, under the leadership of Nabakumar Samanta and other CPI (M) active cadres and leaders from Garu Pada, Gokul Nagar, some of whom came from Kejuri.

Reportedly, there were also blasts in some houses, including in the house of one Kokhon Sheet, who was just released after months-long judicial custody.

"Nandigram continues to be one of the worst blots on the face of Indian democracy. These atrocities continue to happen and recur in Nandigram with the active involvement of the local CPI (M) cadres and leaders and tacit approval and blessings of the party leadership at various levels" says Debjeet.

With most of the earlier victims of violence not having received any compensation and in fact false cases foisted against them, these fresh blows to the people of Nandigram "is nothing short of a death blow to the constitutionally guaranteed rights of the valiant residents of Nandigram" asserts Medha.

Social activists under the banner of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) and Bhumi Uchhed Pratirodh Committee, Nandigram (BUPC Nandigram) further demanded that:

- All the accused must be immediately identified, charged and arrested for gang rape, grievous hurt, intimidation, assault, illegal confinement and wrongful detention and other relevant penal provisions.

- Free legal, medical, psycho-social and other aid and support must be provided to the women and all victims of state and party violence in Nandigram.

- Compensation to all the affected and attacked, with houses destroyed and rapes/molestation faced, must be paid immediately as per the High Court orders.

Let us hope on World Earth Day (22 April 2008), justice will prevail in favour of people of Nandigram who have been struggling hard to protect their own livelihood, nature, natural resources and environment from the combined onslaught of the capitalists and CPI (M).

Democracy weeps in Nandigram

Democracy weeps in Nandigram

NHRC and NCW urged to act

"The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) must take immediate cognizance of the violations in Nandigram and recommend stringent penal action against all those involved, including instituting an inquiry into the involvement of the CPI (M) leadership and cadres in the planning/abetment/execution of the crimes committed" demanded firebrand activist and leader of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) Medha Patkar.

"The National Commission for Women must immediately constitute a fact-finding delegation that must visit Nandigram and submit its Report to the NHRC and also direct immediate payment of compensation to all the women raped and all others injured" further stressed Patkar.

On 18 April 2008, known members of Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI (M)] and armed members of Hamad Vahini Party from Khejuri, leashed another wave of barbaric violence, gang-rape and loot in Nandigram, West Bengal, India.

Nandigram gained the spotlight in early 2007 when state government in collusion with private corporations was trying to forcibly evict farmers from arable land, and resorted to one of the most heinous ways to serve the private corporations, all in the sake of development. The outrage on this massacre by the state authorities of poor farmers in the interest of private companies was paramount globally.

"On 18 April 2008, CPI (M) members attacked the house of Radha Rani and Pratap Ari, threw Pratap Ari in the tank nearby and gang-raped Radha Rani Ari for the second time, in her own house" said Debjeet Shrikant from Bhumi Uchhed Pratirodh Committee (BUPC), Nandigram.

Radharani Ari is one of the women at the forefront of the Nandigram struggle. Coming from a dalit landless family, supported by Pratap Ari (her husband), she has always vehemently protested against the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) chemical hub project and giving away the land, houses, nature, and culture of Nandigram. She is one of the most articulate and courageous women in Nandigram and has also strengthened pro-people movements in Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Maharashtra during the Nandigram-Narmada- Gorai Jaththa.

Narmada Sheet, another very committed and outspoken woman from Sonachura and Mona Pramanik were also brutally attacked. Few men have been missing since that ill-fated night last week.

Radha Rani, Pratap, Narmada Sheet and some others are admitted in the Nandigram Hospital while rest of them, are admitted in Tamluk hospital.

At least 20 houses have been attacked since then, houses destroyed and belongings looted, making more than 100 members of the families homeless. These people are presently being supported by the BUPC.

These atrocious incidents had occurred in Gokul Nagar, Sonachura, Gadhchakrabedia, under the leadership of Nabakumar Samanta and other CPI (M) active cadres and leaders from Garu Pada, Gokul Nagar, some of whom came from Kejuri.

Reportedly, there were also blasts in some houses, including in the house of one Kokhon Sheet, who was just released after months-long judicial custody.

"Nandigram continues to be one of the worst blots on the face of Indian democracy. These atrocities continue to happen and recur in Nandigram with the active involvement of the local CPI (M) cadres and leaders and tacit approval and blessings of the party leadership at various levels" says Debjeet.

With most of the earlier victims of violence not having received any compensation and in fact false cases foisted against them, these fresh blows to the people of Nandigram "is nothing short of a death blow to the constitutionally guaranteed rights of the valiant residents of Nandigram" asserts Medha.

Social activists under the banner of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) and Bhumi Uchhed Pratirodh Committee, Nandigram (BUPC Nandigram) further demanded that:

- All the accused must be immediately identified, charged and arrested for gang rape, grievous hurt, intimidation, assault, illegal confinement and wrongful detention and other relevant penal provisions.

- Free legal, medical, psycho-social and other aid and support must be provided to the women and all victims of state and party violence in Nandigram.

- Compensation to all the affected and attacked, with houses destroyed and rapes/molestation faced, must be paid immediately as per the High Court orders.

Let us hope on World Earth Day (22 April 2008), justice will prevail in favour of people of Nandigram who have been struggling hard to protect their own livelihood, nature, natural resources and environment from the combined onslaught of the capitalists and CPI (M).

Send me your stereotypes- Queen Rania

Queen Rania is launching her presence on YouTube with this exclusive video.

Watch the clip to hear her message to YouTubers everywhere, and then join in the conversation.