Social activists Hemant Goswami appointed in national tobacco control steering committee

According to the latest Government of India Gazett notification GSR 646(E) dated October 17, 2006, leading social activist and tobacco control crusader from India Mr. Hemant Goswami has been made a member of the most powerful executive body formed under the “Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products Act 2003 (COTPA).” The body is called the steering committee and the members shall have powers to take cognizance of violation of section 5 of COTPA which includes violations relating to all direct and indirect forms of advertisements and also violation of the newly notified rules with regard to smoking in movies. Mr. Goswami is the chairperson of the NGO Burning Brain Society.

According to the amended rules (Rule 8) the committee has been empowered to take suo motu (on its own motion) cognizance of violations or act on specific complaints and can thereafter pass orders under the Act. The powerful steering body which shall have jurisdiction all over the country is headed by the Union Secretary of Health and includes the Director Generals of Audio Visual Publicity and Press Information Bureau; Joint Secretaries of Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Law & Justice, Consumer Affairs and Health besides the young parliamentarian Mr. Sachin Pilot.

Reacting to the information regarding his appointment Mr. Hemant Goswami stated that considering the deep-rooted corruption and the influence of the tobacco industry on many law enforcing agencies, formation of this kind of body to take suo motu cognizance of violations under COTPA was a must. Since the jurisdiction of this body extends to the entire country so taking action against violations at national level will also become easier which till now was a big limitation. “It’s an appointment of great responsibilities and expectations. We will do our best to bring all the violations to an end though it’s a real uphill task.” Mr. Hemant added.