Consumer VOICE organized press interaction meet in collaboration with state partner Consumers Association of India at Chennai, Tamil Nadu on February 27, 2018 at Press Club Chennai. The main objective of the workshop was to sensitize the media and discuss the most pressing issues in Tobacco Intervention and how media can play an effective role in tobacco control. Consumer VOICE discussed about COTPA (Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act) and its various provisions, accessibility of tobacco products to youth and how effective enforcement can help in tobacco control.
India has the second largest number of current tobacco users (275 million) in the world. Of these at least 10 lakhs are dying each year from tobacco related diseases. Around 35 % population of Tamil Nadu use some form of tobacco and the number of tobacco users is rising with each passing year.
Ms. Rinki Sharma, Head -Projects & CSR, Consumer VOICE and Mr. Amarjeet Singh, Advisor, Legal & Projects along with Ms. Nirmala Desikan, Chairman, Consumers Association of India and Mr. Somasundaram (Liaison Officer) addressed and interacted with the media.
Media Persons from various electronic, print and online platforms participated in the Press Meet:
Electronic
- Malai Murasu TV
- Vasanth TV
- Dinamalar.com
- Lotus TV
- Tamil Hindu.com
- Jaya TV
- B4Umedia.com
Online
- Krishna TV Online
- Flower Online
- Scroll.in
- Dinamani Online
- Dinamalar TNV Edition
- Kungumam Doctor fortnightly magazine
- Dinamalar Chennai Edition
- Dinakaran
- News Today
- Malaisudar Tamil Daily
- New Indian Express Englih Daily
- Dinamani
- The Hindu