ORAL EXPERTS DEMAND HIKE IN TAXES FOR TOBACCO
                                                                       RELATED PRODUCTS.

     Increasing tobacco addiction cases among youth has been a major cause for 
     worry.While there have been attempts to tackle the issue via awareness 
     campaigns,experts say that increasing the price of tobacco through higher 
     taxes is the most effective way to curb tobacco usage.   

     Prominent experts in oral medicine including Dr.Prabhuji MLV,President
     Indian Dental Association,Karnataka addressed the media.They said
     that World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends a 65% to 80%
     tax on tobacco products.India falls short of this benchmark.Here,
     Karnataka stands at a dismal 17% on cigarettes & 0% on beedis
     according to the press release of Indian Dental Association-Karnataka.