Flying for a noble cause

New Delhi: India will be one of the main beneficiaries of a new funding programme called UNITAID, under which 19 countries have committed themselves to levy a tax on airline tickets to raise money and purchase drugs for developing countries, fighting diseases like TB, AIDS and malaria.
UNITAID was launched last month and is based in the World Health Organisation in Geneva. France is levying a tax of one Euro a ticket, on domestic or European economy class flight and four Euros on a business or first class seat.
The countries hope to raise 50 million Euros (about $63 million) through the programme, by 2006-end and 300 million Euros (about $378 million) by 2007. India has been made a member of UNITAID's advisory group that will finalise the mechanism of raising and channelling the money to developing countries.
However, India has made it clear that although, it will support the programme, but will not impose airline tax as the finance ministry is against a double taxation policy.
With the money raised, India will receive additional anti-retroviral drugs for AIDS patients.
14/10/06 Kounteya Sinha/Times of India

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