In the time of an economic slowdown, when companies are taking strong austerity measures in all possible areas, doctors and anti-tobacco advocates stress that corporates needs to shift focus from paying hefty medical bills of employees to programmes on prevention of diseases.

And taking the lead, the government has pledged its support to corporates serious about the cause, especially ‘kicking the butt’ out of office rooms, corridors, and all other workplaces.

“If 10 to 20 corporates corroborate in tobacco control programme and plan one cessation clinic in the complex, government will help build it both technically and financially,” asserted Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, union health minister at the 14th world conference tobacco or health in Mumbai. 

Over 40 organisations were represented in the event where 19 companies signed the ‘statement of commitment’ along with others who signed Mumbai declaration on promoting smoke-free workplace.

“When I first walked in the Parliament building, I saw a Member of Parliament (MP) smoking in the central hall and wrote a letter to the Speaker asking to ban smoking,” recalls Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, union health minister.

“Corporate leaders from more than 60 national and multinational organizations who have their offices in India have shown solidarity towards the government’s tobacco control efforts. This was first of its kind symposium on corporate leaders meet on worksite wellness initiative: promoting smoke-free workplaces in India,” said Dr K Srinath Reddy, president Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI).

The health ministry is also mulling over a clause wherein government tenders for all projects will be given to those have declared themselves smoke free.

The ministry is imposing various restrictions on tobacco industry by increasing taxes, pictorial warning (which will be in effect from May 1) and the latest is providing alternative jobs to bidi rollers.

 “According to Indian industry survey tobacco consumption, physical inactivity and poor diet account to 27 percent of illnesses. There is a definite benefit in investing in wellness,” said Dr Shloo Kamble, head, India Business Alliance and Advisor, global health initiative of world economic forum.

She added, “Smoking would lead to loss of productivity that would lead to lower moral and poor performance and eventually lead to re-recruitment and retraining. This would escalate ancillary cost to the company apart from footing the employee’s medical bills. Standard Chattered in Africa bank lost over 10,000 workers to HIV/AIDS in five years.”