Ms. Bhavna B. Mukhopadhyay, Chief Executive, VHAI, participated in the Pre-Budget Consultation organised by the Ministry of finance under the chairmanship of Hon’ble Finance Minister, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman. The meeting was held virtually on 17th Dec 2020 in view of the forthcoming General Budget 2021-22. Eminent policy makers like Sh. Ajay Bhushan Pandey, Finance Secretary, MoF, Sh. Tarun Bajaj, Secretary Economic Affairs, MoF, CEA KV Subhramaniam attended the consultation along with senior officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Women & Child Development and Education along with representatives from FICCI, CII, UN, BMGF and other international and Indian organizations.
Ahead of presenting the union budget, the finance minister seeks suggestions from experts from the social sector on various key issues which needs to be addressed in the budget. Ms. Bhavna was given an opportunity to put forward her views, she proposed on exhibiting and supporting utilizing taxation as a tool to help millions of tobacco users to quit and fight the current and future public health challenges. She also highlighted the need to invest significantly in public policy measures to encourage healthier choices given the huge burden of NCDs in India. Increasing the tax on junk food (Foods high in sugar, fat and salt) and health destroying products like tobacco will reduce their consumption and generate the much needed revenue to strengthen the health promotion and prevention programme in India.