World No Tobacco Day was celebrated on 31^st May all over India by various state partners with support from Consumer Voice. To celebrate this day workshops and rallies were organized in Bhopal, MP to generate awareness and risks associated with tobacco consumption.

The National Centre for Human Settlements & Environment with support from  Consumer VOICE organised a workshop to mark the“WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY on the theme – Let’s Stop This Cancer Killing” at Hotel Vigya Shree, Bhopal.  The main objective of the workshop was to spread awareness about ill effects of tobacco and the role of government and people.

The workshop highlighted the fact that in India about 10 lakh people die every year due to tobacco use, of which majority are bidi consumers. The mean age of tobacco users is 17.9 years, i.e majority are minors. In Madhya Pradesh about 39% people consume tobacco and each day about 300 children start smoking or using tobacco.

Panellist, Dr Shailendra Patne, Deputy Director, National Health Mission shared his experience on how to get relief from tobacco addiction.  He asserted that smoking or chewing tobacco leads to cancer, the treatment of which being costly devastates the economy of the family. It affects the both rich and the poor, but the impact is more on the poor.  Thus poverty enters the family due to consumption of tobacco. 

A few short films demonstrating the impact of tobacco consumption on human health were shown to the audience.

World No Tobacco Day was celebrated on 31^st May all over India by various state partners with support from Consumer Voice. To celebrate this day workshops and rallies were organized in Chandigarh to generate awareness and risks associated with tobacco consumption.

On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day Citizens’ Awareness Group, in collaboration with Chandigarh Press Club, and with support of Consumer VOICE organised a rally and workshop in Chandigarh.

Haryana Governor Prof. Kaptan Singh Solanki, and  Senior Congress leader & Former Union Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal graced the occasion .Mr.AshimSanyal, Chief Operating officer, Consumer VOICE addressed the audience and urged the government to take measures like taxation to control the menace of tobacco. Shri  Surender Verma ,Chairperson, citizen awareness group also urged the government and people to come together for tobacco prevention in India.

In the rally more than 50 people participated with placards and banners and urged the people to make a tobacco free society.In the workshop around 100 people participated from Consumer Organisation, NGOs and Civil Society Organisations.

A rally and workshop organised by Rajkot Sahar JillaGrahak Suraksha Mandal at Chamber of Commerce Hall, Rajkot on 31 May, 2017. Hon’ble Police Commissioner Rajkot Mr.AnupansinhGehlot (I.P.S) was the Chief Guest. Dr.V.K.Gupta ,Medical Director, Rajkot Cancer Society, Rajkot, Dr.Pankaj Rathod from Cancer Hospital and officials  from District tobacco cell also graced the occasion.

Shri Amarjeet Singh ,Senior Expert –Legal and Projects made the presentation on the Tobacco Prevention and COTPA act and shared important information on the developments in India on the subject matter.

Team of  Rajkot Sahar JillaGrahak Suraksha Mandal  visited cancer hospital and conducted interviews of several patients which were also shown during the workshop. Pamphlets were distributed in both Gujarati and Hindi.A large number of people from Consumer Groups,Civil society organisations, and doctors working in tobacco prevention participated in the rally and in the workshop.

• Number of tobacco users in India is 274.9 million
• Mean age of tobacco users in India is 17.9 years
• 52% of adults are exposed to second hand smoke

                                                                                                       (Source: GATS 2010 Survey Data)

These are some numbers which see an increase with every passing hour. It is time for every citizen of India to sit up and take note of it. But is tobacco only related to cigarettes? No. In a country like India there are more beedi smokers than cigarette smokers (CPAA India report).  Women here are not left behind too. According to a report by the Public Health Foundation (PHFI), women consuming tobacco products have doubled in the last 15 years. They consume smokeless tobacco which includeskahini, gutkha, pan with tobacco, paan masala and even some toothpastes which are promoted as antibacterial pastes especially among children.

Tobacco Causing Cancer

Nicotine a predominant component found in tobacco majorly responsible for cancer. Nicotine is highly addictive and this poisonous substance rapidly travels to the brain influencing the cerebral metabolism.Tobacco is one of the primary causes of cancer which is associated with cancer of respiratory tract, lung, upper gastrointestinal tract,kidney,liver, pancreas, urinary bladder, cervix, etc. Smokeless tobacco is a major cause of cancer of the oral cavity.

Tobacco Consumption Facts of India

Respiratory Diseases

Tobacco is also linked with lung cancer and is known to cause acute asthmatic attacks. It might also lead to tuberculosis. Smokers are 12-13 times at risk to die from COPD than non-smokers.

Cardiovascular diseases

If you thought smoking only causes cancer then you are mistaken. Smokers are at a greater risk for diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels. Stroke is caused when tobacco compresses blood vessels leading to loss of consciousness and paralysis.

How ToControl Use of Tobacco in India

To prevent use of tobacco it has to be a joint effort of the government and the people. The government is doing its bit by forming several legislations like banning smoking in all public places, prohibiting advertisement and promotion of all tobacco products and sale of tobacco to minors.

The COTPA (The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act 2003 prohibits advertisement of and sale and supply of cigarettes and other tobacco products in India. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare took up several initiatives to create awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco use and tobacco products out of which pictorial warning is a hugely successful one.However, the key to success is the implementation of these measures.

Inspite of these strict laws the number of tobacco users is not decreasing at a desirable rate. Strict action and stricter implementation is required to achieve a good success rate. To be a tobacco free country it should be the responsibility of every citizen to play a significant role.

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Why Should You Quit Tobacco

Educating the society and starting at the school level is the call of the hour. Children should be adequately informed about the ill effects all forms of tobacco.Every village, every town and every city should be sensitized on the harmful effects of cigarettes and beedis. Psychological support should be provided to the people who want to quit smoking. Family support is essential in this case.

Read Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) Report