Bollywood stars to campaign against smoking: Ramadoss

Comments [ 10 ] By India-Forums.com Staff | 03 September 2008 | 11:08am

Bangalore, Sep 2 (IANS) Leading film stars will be part of a massive national campaign against tobacco consumption, Health Minister said here Tuesday, also inviting superstar Shah Rukh Khan to be part of it.

'Tobacco consumption in India has increased from 15 percent to 26 percent in recent times and 14 percent of the tobacco users are Anbumani Ramadoss below 15 years. Large-scale use of tobacco, alcohol and drug are the most serious health-related issues plaguing the country today. We need to control it and for that harsh measures are the need of the hour,' he said.

'Even Shah Rukh Khan is welcomed to be part of the anti-smoking awareness campaign, provided he quits smoking,' he told reporters on the sidelines of a function.

Ramadoss inaugurated three modern blocks at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience (NIMHANS) here.

The campaign is expected to start from Oct 2.

The health minister and the Bollywood superstar had a spat over the former's comments on the smoking scenes in films encouraging youth to take to the habit. Several film stars had attacked Ramadoss saying he was trying to curb creative freedom.

'Awareness of hazards of smoking is a must to help smokers quit the habit. In order to make the campaign successful, we will invite prominent film stars from Bollywood and regional film industry to be part of the advertisements depicting the harmful effect of smoking,' he said.

On steps to control the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country, Ramadoss reiterated that the provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) classifying sex between two men as a criminal offence should be removed.

'Almost 86 percent of HIV/AIDS cases in the country are due to unsafe practice of sex. India has 2.45 million MSM (men who have sex with men). And 10 percent of them are highly vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. Criminalising them causes a big hindrance in our campaign against HIV/AIDS as they are scared to openly declare their status,' he added.

Copyright IANS

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Date: 9/8/2008 6:52:53 AMtsfme
Honestly speaking Its very easy to
Pass the blame on..n on..n on..n on..n..on..n..yah u knw..lmao
Date: 9/8/2008 6:51:14 AMtsfme
Aur if they are sincerely concerned for humanity then
All governments should close down Cigarette manufacturing
yah..will they give up that huge chunk of commission?..hmmm
Date: 9/8/2008 6:48:40 AMtsfme
Everyone is after a piece of SRK
Par if his name can do some good..its all good
He is not an angel..par is not far frm being one
Because honestly..no matter what anyone says
I love the fact he is down to earth..yah love him

Inshallah he will overcome his habit as he is capable
Just hope all his fans understand that its not something
He loves..its something he is unfortunately addicted to

He started smoking because..everyone in his school was
So..all fans should learn that most of the time
What everyone does..Or you think they are doing
Is not always..The right thing to do
Date: 9/4/2008 7:31:53 PMcutykoo20
srk ka kia hoga lolz
Date: 9/3/2008 4:28:10 PM~*puja*~
thanks... interesting!
Date: 9/3/2008 9:31:46 AMafreen_14
thats really good thnxx
Date: 9/3/2008 5:15:07 AMluv_pavi
thnxxx n itzz gudddd
Date: 9/3/2008 4:54:23 AMmprai
such campaigns can be great help, if it really reaches the rurals. i myself coming frm rural area can say, such campaigns are need of time. they are never wastage of time.
Date: 9/3/2008 4:31:50 AM--Princess--
Get a life, man !!

The whole world knows the disadvantages of smoking. Even then if people wants to smoke or should I say..teenagers wants to smoke..you can't stop them !!

Doing this campaign and trying to spread awareness is not going to help. You'll just waste your money.

Plus all the biggies of B-town smoke. There's no point if they become part of this campaign and behind the doors smoke packets and packets of ciggaretts !!

Ramdoss...kisi aur kaam mein paisey lagao !!
Date: 9/3/2008 3:01:25 AMrajdeep_cyberax
smoking is a bad habit,and it kills...but that doesn't mean to put a ban on onscreen-smoking resolves the problem or encourage people to quit smoking.it's the awareness that matters...but i think most of the smokers are aware of the bad effects of smoking already.was it very necessary to put a ban on arts?...that follows.. murder,rape,corruption,fighting,slang, these also fall in the list of the To-be-Banned...as well...and one last thing...imagine Amitabh Bachchan without a biri in Dewar ...which he tosses to strike a fight with the mafia leader of the shipping dock...or imagine Devdas without the glass of wine...sound funny...doesn't it?...anyway...