Friday, June 24 2005 12:59 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Charging the tobacco industry with directly paying heroes to smoke on the screen, Union Health Minister Ambumani Ramadoss has said he is determined to ensure a complete ban on such portrayals from October.

"I am not afraid of any lobby howsoever powerful it is. I am determined to implement the ban come what may," he said yesterday (Jun 23, 2005).

Claiming he had definite information the tobacco industry was directly paying heroes to show smoking scenes in the films, he said, "Unfortunately I have no proof."

"It is my duty to prevent this. We did not take a decision overnight but after deliberating the issue for quite some time," Ramadoss said.

"I am not against the film industry but the movie industry is being used by the tobacco industry," he said adding out of 800 to 900 movies made in India annually 76 percent depicted smoking scenes.

Citing a study by internationally as claimed medical journal Lancet, he said 52 per cent of children take to smoking due to movies and the influence of smoking scenes in films is 16 per cent more effective than direct tobacco advertisement.

"When millions of people give polio drops to their children inspired by Amitabh Bachman's appeal, the impact of the smoking scenes is not difficult to imagine," he said congratulating Tamil super star Rajnikanth for not showing any smoking scene in his latest film Chandramukhi.

"As the country's Health Minister, I am concerned that 40 per cent of the health-related problems from cancer to cardiovascular ailments, kidney, skin allergy, lung problems and miscarriages are caused due to smoking," he said.

The Minister has also announced a total ban on tobacco vending machines from August one. The Information and Broadcasting Ministry had earlier this month deferred the Health Ministry's recommendation to implement the ban from August 1 to October 2.

The Minister recalled there was a huge hue and cry in the United State (US) Congress over the alleged direct payment made by the tobacco industry to Holly the Government's decision taken on Monday creating two secretaries posts - one each at Shillong and another at Tura for the which they viewed as Tanta mounting to its 'bifurcation' after 'bowing down' to the KSU pressure.

The Garo bodies called for an indefinite bandh in three districts of the region unless their demands were met.

The Government, however, denied any move to 'bifurcate' the MBOSE or to 'dislocate' it from Tura, the West Garo Hills district town where it is presently headquartered.

The Monday's Government order will be discussed in today's (Jun 24,2005) crucial cabinet meeting.