Padma Award for ITC chairman irks anti-tobacco activists

Anti-Tobacco groups have expressed shock and disappointment at the government’s decision to confer the Padma Bhushan award on Yogesh Chander Deveshwar, chairman of tobacco giant ITC. “ His selection is a great discouragement for those working in the area of public health,” Bhavana B. Mukhopadhyay, executive director of Voluntary Health Association of India, said. The association had written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pratibha Patil on his nomination.

Another group, HRIDAY- SHAN had taken up the issue with the chairman of the Padma awards committee. Tobacco control groups feel the award will portray the tobacco industry in a positive light and add to its clout which it has time and again used to oppose tobacco control initiatives.

“ This is a black day for public health movement in India. It is the highest award meant for people who contribute to people’s welfare,” Monika Arora, director HRIDAY- SHAN, said.

Though the company has other business interests, it earns the major part of its revenue from tobacco products, the groups said. “ It is still called the Indian Tobacco Company,” Mukhopadhyay added.