Union health minister Anbumani Ramadoss's relentless attempts to correct the ills of Indian society continue. Yesterday, the man who wants a "Statutory Warning" on the screen each time Rajnikanth takes a puff, pushed the envelope of public health further.
"I am appealling to Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag and Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai and other film and sports stars to desist from endorsing soft drinks and fast foods," Dr Ramadoss said. "These are doing much harm to society. If these stars want to do some good for the society, they must shun these ads."
Obesity, diabetes, and other diseases are on the rise in the country because of the consumption of such products. "Even children under 12 years of age are suffering from cardiac ailments due to junk food," Dr Ramadoss said.
Questions: Is Dr Ramadoss just being a control freak, or is he right in counselling our superstars? Do our superstars "who have short careers" have the conscience to listen to such advice? Are they really bothered about public health? Should they be? Will the diseases come down simply because stars do not endorse the products? Or, in a free market, is anybody free to do anything he pleases?
churumuri 
Well, in Americans schools all the vending machines that sell softdrinks and unhealthy snacks are either being replaced by healthy snacks or removed from school premises. This is happening because of pressure from non-governmental pressure groups and even active intervention by school boards and politicians too. Of course, this hasn’t stopped sports-stars and film stars from endorsing such products.
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During the ‘Fanaa’ controversy, when the BJP activisits blasted him for endorsing multinational products, Aamir Khan said simply: “Your government, your ministers went out and invited these companies to come and invest in India. Why are you blaming me for endorsing them?” A similar question can be asked in the case of the soft drinks and other junk food endorsed by the stars. If the government does not want them to endorse these products, why does it allow these products in the first place? Pretty much the same question can be asked with Dr Ramadoss’ ridiculous proposal to insert Statutory Warnings for on-screen smoking, when the government allows the manufacture and sale of tobacco products. Because our bankrupt governments run with the hares and hunt with the hounds, people like Dr Ramadoss find it easy to place all the onus on the stars and their ability to woo the masses towards consuming these products, when it is parents, teachers and shopkeepers who need to be manning the gates.
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make hay while sunshines- this is the policy being followed by all celebrities,nothing wrong. sachin ,shahrukh,ash they cannot be role models for youth. thats where dr.rajkumar stands out,he never used his immense popularity for promoting MNC products. he was ,he is a legend, a role model. another person one can think of is badminton superstar pullela gopichand. he declined to endorse pepsi when lakhs of rupees were offered to him.
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As Atmasakshi pointed out, while the minister may think he is entitled to appeal to the stars in his effort to correct society, he is conveiently choosing soft targets. It is very likely that these very companies need his ministry’s clearance in running their business. In addition to this appeal, he could also show his zeal there. He could also take it up with the makers of the fast foods and soft drinks directly. Only then would his appeal make more sense.
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There is nothing wrong in the minister’s appeal…except that it should remain that way – as an appeal…Somebody should appeal to Ramdoss that as a Union Health Minister, he should prioritise and should spend his time and energy on other matters that concern public
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Talking about conscience and Amir! No it is CON- SCIENCE all the way. Originally this guy promoted PEPSI and then made a turn around saying, as he likes COKE over PEPSI, he will promote COKE! This guy suffers from something akin to Stockholm syndrome and by acting is few movies has started thinking that he has a larger than life role to play too. This is utter humbug and we are wasting too much time over these grease paint makeovers!
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Let them do what they want to, please. People are discerning enough to accept, reject products/lifestyles. Let these celebrities be guided by their conscience and convinction – not a minister’s holier than thou pronouncements.
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