Voice of Tobacco Victims

Voice of Tobacco Victims is a doctor-led initiative that raises awareness among policymakers about the dangers of widespread tobacco use, the activities of the tobacco industry, the lack of strict action against tobacco companies, and the growing plight of victims across India.

This campaign initially used a dozen cancer survivors from Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, in 2009. The aim of the campaign was to make tobacco victims (cancer survivors and their relatives) the public face of the anti-tobacco movement. When it was launched in October 2011, it included 23 doctors as volunteers from various states in India. Over the past 9 years, the number of doctors has grown to 406 across 25 states in India.

More than 21,000 policymakers and policy enforcers have been made aware of tobacco control issues. Due to sensitization and advocacy, several policy changes have occurred over the past 9 years, such as VAT increases, gutka bans, twin-pack smoke-free bans, bans on loose cigarette sales, amendments to the JJ Act, pictorial pack warnings from 40% to 85% on both sides, and a ban on electronic cigarettes in India. Additionally, government education departments and police have begun taking action against violations of Indian tobacco control laws.

Reference - Sarin A, Seth S. Voice of Tobacco Victims (VoTV) campaign sensitized more than 21000+ policymakers & enforcers in India on tobacco control in 9 years. Tobacco Induced Diseases. 2021;19(1):A9. doi:10.18332/tid/140855.