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Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has written to Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, urging him to ban sale of cigarettes in defence canteens. 'I strongly feel that we need our armed forces to be physically and mentally fit and avoid using substances that compromise their health, fitness and wellbeing,' Harsh Vardhan wrote in the letter. 'Therefore, the armed forces establishments must stop selling tobacco products through their canteens and the ministry may revisit its policy making available cigarettes and other tobacco products at a discount to their members,' he said.
The health minister said information and education campaign should back up the ban, and all defence establishments and naval ships should be made no-smoking zones. 'This would go a long way in creating a healthy and fit force that can take up any enemy challenge with grit and determination,' Harsh Vardhan added.
Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, a vehement anti-tobacco campaigner and cancer surgeon applauded the move and said: 'Our soldiers need to be fit all the times for obvious reason. It is shocking that the government continues to force addiction in them by offering subsidized alcohol and tobacco. There is no logic why a soldier needs to be lured into indulging in these harmful habits at the cost of tax payer's money. The pilferage from army canteens is a well known problem. I completely support Health minister's action to make our forces healthier and stronger.'
(Read: World No Tobacco Day 2014: How to identify and beat your smoking triggers)
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Source: IANS
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