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Virginia growers seek changes in Tobacco Bill

K.R. Srivats

NEW DELHI, July 23

THE Virginia Tobacco Growers Association of India (VTGAI) has called for the incorporation of necessary provisions in the proposed comprehensive tobacco legislation to ensure effective ``implementation'' of the provisions of the Bill.

This suggestion has been made in the Association's submissions on the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Bill, 2001, to the Parliamentary Committe e on Human Resources Development (HRD).

In his presentation to the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee, Mr S.B. Chavan, the Honorary President of VTGAI, and former Member of Parliament, Dr Y. Sivaji, said ``there is nothing in the Bill for effective implementation of the provisions of the legislation'' and warned that this would ultimately lead to ``malpractice and corruption at the lower levels''.

He has also suggested that there should be simultaneous amendment to the Tobacco Board Act along with this Bill to regulate the consumption of tobacco and tobacco products in the country.

It was pointed out to the Parliamentary Committee that the Andhra Pradesh High Court had advised the Government to regulate the production of tobacco and to amend the Tobacco Board Act, 1975, for effective implementation of the crop size. ``However, prec ious little has been done by the Government in this direction,'' Mr Sivaji said.