A farmers’ association body, Federation of All India Farmer Associations (FAIFA) has appealed the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and all other Ministers concerned to uphold Indian tobacco farmers’ respect by boycotting the global anti-tobacco conference to be held in the National Capital next month. The 7th Conference of Parties (COP7), to be held here on November 7-12, will review the implementation of the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC) and the protocol to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products.
“Showing their resentment towards the WHO-FCTC regulations, farmers protested outside the Ministry for Health. The farmers also staged a protest outside the office of WHO demanding transparency in FCTC decision making,” the FAIFA said.
“Adhoc decisions on tobacco control at this Conference, as in previous such meetings, will affect the livelihood of millions of tobacco farmers and farm labourers involved in tobacco cultivation in the country,” FAIFA added. FAIFA urged the Centre to include tobacco farmers in the official Indian delegation to the upcoming conference or else boycott the conference, it said, adding that FAIFA has also written to the UN General Secretary requesting to be invited to the WHO-FCTC conference.