This looks funny on one hand you allow the manufacturing of Cigarettes and on the other you ban them for some silly reason. When you want to regulate the smokers then why are you allowing the companies to manufacture cigarettes. The ads on smoking is very very horrible even the pictorial representation on cigarette pack. This is nothing but double standard
india is democratic country with 80% people uneducated and poor. freedom is ok if people r self disciplined. thats why such decisions r taken. there should not objection for such decision.
Re: smoking
by M on Oct 08, 2013 01:57 PM
Academics is not all thats called EDUCATION ! Behaviour is not all thats called CIVILIAN ! Its the Spiritualism ,History and Culture which bears the essence of EDDUCATION not the books imitated by the colonial pirates for generations
If I have a thought in my head, it is because some chemicals are shuttling around between cells, doing what they are supposed to. We now know enough about tobacco to understand why people want to keep smoking once they have started, and it it is reasonable to use the information that we have.
When a smoker lights up, he or she is not evaluating concepts like liberty of thought, artistic expression, the biology of lung cancer, or even his household economy; rather, his brain has got used to a rush of nicotine from from his cigarette, through his lungs and into his brain.
Well thought out arguments against tobacco have little impact on his mind; the nicotine-induced changes in his brain got there first, and the best arguments are feeble against a rush of neurotransmitters.
This is what we are up against. The best way to avoid addiction is never to start; the messages at the start of, and during the movies have my support. They are not guaranteed to work, but we are a rational species, smoking rates have come down in some countries and we should at least try.
anti smoking messages are like foring the audience to stand for the National anthem b4 every movie, though everyone stands, no one takes any interest in the anthem itself nor do they even mouth the words, all Indians shld know the they have been repeating it in school and colleges b4 every function, same in the anti smoking messages, no one cares the visuals are pathetic and not effective , children see worse visuals on National and cable tv and so are immune, I would request the GOVT to TAX HEAVILY the SMOKERS, companies/smokers and related industries of pan / gutka etc, recover the petroleum deficit from these people and reduce the price of LPG/PETROL/DIESEL doesnt it make sense? these are essentials that would directly benefit consumers, we dont know what happens to the taxes levied on SMOKERS, companies / smokers and related industries of pan/gutka etc, probably into the coffers of corrupt politicians
Re: tax smokers & reduce fuel prices
by ramesh ks on Oct 30, 2013 12:12 AM
I am smoker for 43 years and have no disease and am helping people around even after a crippling accident. I earn less than 50 rupees a day and devastated with out money,property,spouse.I have not begged for state support and never indulged in illegality.Smoking is my stress buster as much as entertainment and travel for those who can afford. I eat a meal a day. Why don't people stop craving for subsidized gas,food and etc. And save urban educated under employed people who may be drowned in their own problems but put up bravely with a cultivated habit which they know is bad even on the purse but keeps as a recourse to steadying them from depression and surrendering to state help.
Re: @Author
by santosh tuggali on Oct 07, 2013 08:19 PM
I haven't read a saner, right, nice feeling message boars on Rediff in years. For a change if the Govt. of India and the Ministry of Health want to use fear as a deterrent, scare the hell out of youngsters, minors, we have these crappy campaigns defending "art." Would the US, UK, middle Eastern governments have acceded to any of a hypothetical Indian genius' pleas and requests? Hell, no! GoI, please stick to your guns. Kudos to you for running the Mukesh campaign. Let people with their caramel popcorns and large colas feel utterly uncomfortable in their plush multiplex seats. If you are in India, you will go by the government rules. Woody Allen, and his godly chacha from Mars can go take a walk. Phew!
"I do not believe in banning cigarettes. Rather I believe in freedom for individuals and that adults should be allowed to smoke if they wish to". Posting a message to discourage smoking is no way tampers with your freedom of smoking. All they want to make sure is that people at young age should not get hooked to the habit when there is lack of awareness.
I personally support this initiative by Indian govt. This, one one hand forces the directors to judiciously use these props, and on other hand will create awareness to movie goers much in advance that there is a negative side of the story to otherwise appealing act of smoking. Now, with this awareness, if someone decides to indulge (without bothering others) then, that's a personal choice.
Re: Dear learned author
by Rohit l on Oct 07, 2013 08:22 PM
Then, why not as the author suggests ban cigarette sales or stringently implement 18 years above age limit or tax them heavily?
These ads seems to me a halfhearted attempt at "awareness" by the government/censor board.
I personally find the adverts before the movie begins disturbing and bit naive.
