[Reader-list] fw: fw: CERC for Ban on Corporate Gifts in Schools

[electricshadows at vsnl.com]

> ** Original Subject: fw: CERC for Ban on Corporate Gifts in Schools
> ** Original Sender: Chaterji <electricshadows at vsnl.com>
> ** Original Date: 03 Jan 2002 22:05:29 +0500

> ** Original Message follows... 

>To: reader-list at sarai.net
CC: 
BCC: 
From: Chaterji <electricshadows at vsnl.com>
Subject: fw: CERC for Ban on Corporate Gifts in Schools
Date: 03 Jan 2002 22:05:29 +0500

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\par > ** Original Subject: CERC for Ban on Corporate Gifts in Schools
\par > ** Original Sender: "cerc" <cerc at icenet.net>
\par > ** Original Date: Thu,  3 Jan 2002 16:35:10 +0530 (IST)
\par 
\par > ** Original Message follows... 
\par 
\par >PRESS RELEASE
\par                           -------------
\par Ref: E&R/PS/Class.01/AH/2002
\par 
\par            CERC for Ban on Corporate Gifts in Schools
\par 
\par Consumer  Education  and Research Centre (CERC),  Ahmedabad,  has 
\par urged both the Union Government and the Government of Gujarat  to 
\par ban the advertising campaigns, sales, distribution and  promotion 
\par of  fast-moving consumer goods, dietary supplements, free  gifts, 
\par etc. in schools, resorted to by manufacturing companies and other 
\par organisations of commercial interest.  
\par 
\par In  a  letter to Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, the Union  Minister  for 
\par Human Resource Development, and Mrs Anandiben Patel, the  Gujarat 
\par Minister for Education, CERC has pointed out that schools  should 
\par in  fact  inculcate  in  children the  ability  to  resist  sales 
\par pressures  by  educating  them about  the  nature  of  commercial 
\par messages,  analysing advertisements, `demagnifying  products  and 
\par clarifying alternatives in the marketplace. Such education should 
\par begin at the elementary grade itself, the letter has added. 
\par 
\par CERC  has  also  called for a ban  on  quizzes  and  competitions 
\par sponsored  by  industry  where  children  are  forced  to  buy  a 
\par company's  product  to  participate in  a  competition  or  where 
\par promotional campaigns are carried out in the form of free  gifts. 
\par Even   schools  themselves  should  not  conduct  such   quizzes, 
\par competitions,   etc.  that  may  encourage  children   to   watch 
\par advertisements.  Display of  names of products and  manufacturers 
\par in any form in school should also be banned. 
\par 
\par Citing  certain recent instances of violation of advertising  and 
\par promotion  norms,  CERC  said  that  kindergarten  children  were 
\par reportedly offered an energy drink along with milk and in another 
\par case,  noodles.  Samples of toothpastes were also known  to  have 
\par been  distributed  to children in school. "The  latest  and  most 
\par unpardonable entrant" to join this rush for luring children  into 
\par the  fold  is  a drug company, which  offered   kids  of  primary 
\par classes  a 15-tablet calcium supplement along with an  eraser,  a 
\par ruler  and  a  pencil. Worse, the  company's  representative  was 
\par allowed to deliver a sales talk to the kids on calcium deficiency 
\par and their  need for daily calcium intake. (CERC has also  written 
\par to  the Drug Controller General of India to take  action  against 
\par the pharmaceutical company concerned.)   
\par 
\par In  another  campaign,  children were required to buy  a  box  of 
\par crayons, obtain a coupon, and attach it to their drawing or model 
\par to  be  eligible  for  a competition. CERC also  cited  a  widely 
\par reported  recent incident in an Ahmedabad school  where  children 
\par had fallen sick after consuming chocolates of a reputed brand and 
\par 
\par company.  The chocolates had been distributed free as part  of  a 
\par promotional  campaign in the school. "If the  District  Education 
\par Office has issued a show-cause notice to the school concerned  to 
\par explain  why  a  private  company was  allowed  to  hold  a  quiz 
\par competition  in the school premises, it is equally  important  to 
\par stop  manufacturers from entering school premises at all --  with 
\par or without competitions," the CERC letter argued.  
\par 
\par It  added that by allowing commercial interests free  entry  into 
\par classrooms, schools have become silent partners in advertising to 
\par children,  contributing to commercial pressures on  children  and 
\par implying  endorsement of the products promoted. In fact,  schools 
\par should have taught children how to deal with commercial pressures 
\par and not to succumb to them. 
\par 
\par The vulnerability and natural credulity of children could not  be 
\par exploited  for narrow commercial gains, CERC said, adding,  "This 
\par is  against all norms of national and  international  advertising 
\par codes of conduct". 
\par 
\par The  Advertising  Standards  Council of India  Rules  state  that 
\par "Advertisements  addressed to minors shall not contain  anything, 
\par whether in illustration or otherwise, which might result in their 
\par physical,   mental  or  moral  harm  or  which   exploits   their 
\par vulnerability."  The  International Code as well as  the  British 
\par Code of Advertising too specifies similar, if not more stringent, 
\par safeguards  against  children's exposure to  advertisements,  the 
\par CERC letter added.  
\par 
\par Date : 2-1-2002                            Ms. Lalita Meduri
\par Place: Ahmedabad                       Consumer Relations Officer 
\par -----------------------------------------------------------------
\par Opinions, test results and research findings issued through  this 
\par Press  Release cannot be used in any form directly or  indirectly 
\par for advertising, promotional or commercial purpose.
\par 
\par CONSUMER EDUCATION AND RESEARCH CENTRE
\par "Suraksha   Sankool",  Thaltej,  Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar   Highway, 
\par Ahmedabad-  380  054  (INDIA) Phone:  079-7489945-46,  Fax:  079-
\par 7489947, E-mail: cerc at wilnetonline.net
\par -----------------------------------------------------------------
\par 
\par 
\par 
\par >** --------- End Original Message ----------- **
\par 
\par > 
\par }
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File Attached: C:\Program Files\NeoPlanet\data\_TEMPE\at the elementary grade itself, the letter has added.


>** --------- End Original Message ----------- **

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