Let's be honest, in school and college, girls who were fair were favoured for various task during events or performances. Some feel this heat even at the workplace, I've also got a comment that I am not as fair for a Malayalee. Little do they know that I only consider myself Malaysian! 

But you'll be surprised that men also suffer from this unfair fairness preferences. I remember hearing about a family I know who rejected a marriage proposal for their daughter, with comments that the guy was not fair as they wish he would be. They did not take into account that he was a decent guy with a good family, stable job, own house and car. They later married her off to a fairer skin guy who has no permanent job and was involved in money laundering, but hey, no problem, he's fair! 

When I read about the the amazing move by India - 5-year jail term, Rs 50 lakh fine for ads promoting skin fairness, govt proposes, I am extremely glad and hope other countries will follow suit. The draft bill proposes extremely stringent penalties compared to the current law

The government has proposed to amend the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954.

Image: Forbes - How Should Advertisers Respond To Consumer Demand For Whiter Skin?

It was truly a joy to read that change can happen, with the draft bill prepared by the government stating that it could slap a fine of up to Rs 50 lakh and imprisonment up to five years for advertisements promoting pharmaceutical products for fairness of skin, deafness, improvement of height, hair loss or greying, obesity, among others.

Under the new draft of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) (Amendment) Bill, 2020, a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh and up to two years’ imprisonment has been proposed in the case of first offence. In the case of a subsequent conviction, imprisonment may extend to five years and the fine, up to Rs 50 lakh.

In the current law, the first offence subjects to imprisonment up to six months, with or without a fine, and up to one year for a second time conviction.

The present law identifies ‘magic remedy’ in the form of a talisman, mantra, and any others  that are alleged to possess miraculous powers for or in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of any disease in human beings or animals or for affecting or influencing in any way the structure or any organic function of the body of human beings or animals. 

Kudos India and we sure hope the global community will reject the idea of only fair skin goes, because when there is no demand and pressure to have a certain skin tone, there won't be a need for supply for fairness products.