Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
NEW DELHI, INDIA, India, July 15, 2006: In the category of exemplary leadership by a government ministry, the American Cancer Society has selected the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, for its consistent and excellent performance in anti-tobacco advocacy. Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, received the award at a formal ceremony during the World Conference on Tobacco or Health in Washington, D.C., on Friday. The award was conferred on the Ministry for their progressive response, beginning in 1990, by backing India’s national tobacco control legislation as well as the leadership of the Indian Delegation at the Frame Work Convention on Tobacco Control. Despite strong opposition from the Indian film industry and television industries, India is the first country to propose a ban on depicting smoking in films and on television drama series.