The Indian government is being praised all over the world for the rule of showing tobacco warnings on OTT. The World Health Organization (WHO) has called it a step to show direction to the world. This will help in keeping children away from the habit of tobacco and telling them about its dangers.
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare announced rules making tobacco warnings mandatory for OTT platforms on May 31 this year. This rule has come into effect from September 1. Under this, whenever a tobacco scene is shown during any program, a warning will be shown at the bottom of the screen about the lethality of tobacco. Similarly, awareness video and disclaimer will also have to be shown.
Dr. Shekhar Mande, National President of Vigyan Bharati, an organization of Sangh Parivar, has called the implementation of tobacco warnings on OTT platforms necessary not only scientifically but also culturally. Similarly, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) chief Priyank Kanungo has stressed that efforts to make deadly smoking attractive on OTT will not be allowed to succeed at any cost.
10 lakh children will run awareness campaign
Apart from this, 10 lakh school children from across the country of the Prahari Club run by the Commission will conduct an awareness campaign in this regard. Academics and public health experts have also called tobacco warnings necessary to provide a safe future to children and youth.
NCPCR President Priyank Kanungo stressed the need to implement the warning rule on OTT platforms as soon as possible and strictly. He said that children and youth have very soft minds. There are continuous efforts to influence them towards products like tobacco.
Showing warning will reduce the effect of tobacco
It also has a great impact on young children. But by showing the warning brought by the government, the effect of tobacco on the minds of children will be reduced. The results of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey conducted in India show that almost half of the children are positively influenced by such anti-tobacco messages.
WHO praised India
New Delhi, Dr. Uma Kumar, founder head of the rheumatology department of AIIMS and recipient of the National Award for Science Communication, described the introduction of OTT rules as very useful from the public health point of view. He said that teenagers aged 12-16 years who watch such scenes during entertainment are 3 times more likely to start smoking. Whereas by showing warnings we are able to stop attempts to make tobacco look attractive.
Therefore, this effort of the Indian Government is being praised all over the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) has described this as India's step to show direction to the world. The industry should come forward with full enthusiasm to implement this rule brought for the health and safe future of the country's children.
During the webinar organized by the citizen group Tobacco Free India, eminent speakers discussed the problem of attracting children towards tobacco products on OTT. These include Priyank Kanungo, chairman of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR); Dr. Surekha Kishore, the first Executive Director of AIIMS, Gorakhpur; Dr. Uma Kumar, Founder Head of Rheumatology, AIIMS, New Delhi; Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan received educationist Dr. Shyam Chona was involved. The program was moderated by senior journalist Arun Anand.
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