The missive is part of an effort to tackle India’s rising non-communicable disease burden
Anticipating that Indian Railways’ move to brand trains and stations to augment revenues may become a platform for promotion of tobacco and unhealthy foods, the Union Health Ministry has requested Indian Railways to not advertise such products.
CK Mishra, Secretary, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), in a letter to Ministry of Railways, has said that the assets of Indian Railways should not be used to advertise products that negatively impact health.
Railways recently unveiled a non-fare revenue (NFR) policy and aims to earn Rs 2,000 crore by allowing trains, level-crossings and areas along the tracks to be used for advertising.
“Branding trains and stations to augment revenues is a welcome step, as it will provide revenue to the government. But the initiative can be used by industries to promote products such as alcohol, tobacco and foods containing high fats, sugar and salt (HFSS), sugar sweetened aerated and non-aerated beverages that have negative health externalities. Advertisement of such products will result in unfavourable health and economic consequences for individuals, and the nation at large,” Mishra said in the letter, a copy of which is with DNA.
(Source: MoHFW, World Economic Forum & Harvard School of Public Health 2014, Global Adult Tobacco Survey)
“Any move to promote products that have negative health externalities will scuttle ongoing efforts to reduce and regulate the consumption of alcohol, tobacco, food containing HFSS, SSBs including aerated and non-aerated beverages,” said Mishra.
“To address the health and developmental burden of Non-communicable diseases in a sustainable manner, a coordinated multi-sectoral response is required with due attention to the underlying causes,” he said.
To combat the rising burden of NCDs, in 2014 MoHFW and World Health Organisation Country Office for India developed a National Multi-sectoral Action Plan (NMAP). Formally launched in December 2014, the NMAP was sent to all major ministries and departments for their comments. The Ministry of Railways also agreed to the NMAP. At the time, the Union Health Ministry also suggested activities that the Indian Railways could undertake to raise awareness on dietary- and lifestyle-related risk factors of NCD.
The ministry had suggested displaying messages promoting good health on train tickets, railway stations, wagons, coaches, factories and IRCTC SMS-based messaging.
In the past, MoHFW has partnered with Indian Railways for health activities such as the launch of ‘Red Ribbon’ train in 2007 for an AIDS/HIV awareness campaign train, and the tobacco control programme, started
in 2013.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "TRAIN_ADVERTISEMENT")
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}