NOT TO BE PUBLISHED/BROADCAST BEFORE  31st  May, 2009

       The gavel of Judiciary has finally struck upon the Tobacco Industry of the Country where 250 million tobacco addicts amounting to 60 % of the total population of the Nation are trapped in the fangs of ‘Tobacco Epidemic’.

             The Supreme Court orders came right at the time when one million people in India are dying of tobacco related diseases annually, mostly 70% in their prime time. It would be now mandatory for tobacco industry to provide ‘pictorial warning’ occupying 40% space on the front panel of tobacco and Gutka packs portraying pictures of cancerous lungs, scorpions, snakes etc. the orders have further clarified that no court in the Country would pass any order contrary to this undertaking.

            The Indian Judiciary, paved the way for the legislation in 2003, continues to play the guardian of key tobacco control policies through significant rulings.

            Since the tobacco epidemic became a focal point in the meetings of World Health Organizations (WHO) and the World Health Assembly (WHA), its members States began to feel the inferno of tobacco ascend worldwide.

            Globally 5.4 million of people die of ill effects of tobacco on an average of one death every 6 seconds. At the current rate, the death toll is projected to reach 8.3 million by 2030 and a total of one billion in 21st century. More than one billion smokers i.e. 84% live in developing countries. By 2030, 70% of the deaths attributable to tobacco will occur in the developing countries.

            The Indian tobacco Control Law, the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of

Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, (COTPA) 2003, which came to effect in 2004 and became a law on 2nd October 2008, prohibits smoking in ‘public places’. It had provided for strict regulations on tobacco promotion and barred all forms of direct and indirect advertisement.

            India is one of the major targets of tobacco companies which have adopted the trend of ‘Catching the adolescents Young’. For a country with a population of over 40 crore being less than 18 years of age, tobacco consumption is a major threat to our economy playing with the health of the individuals.  The law has finally come down heavily on the assassinating character of tobacco products to convert present ‘feel good’ factor to future ‘real good factor’ by taking a stringent stand on portraying pictorial warnings. Globally, over 18 countries have introduced ‘Graphic Health Warnings’ on tobacco products.

            In India there are 2.5 million of cancer cases at any given time and 0.8 million i.e. one third of the total population of the country account for tobacco related cancers. The poorest of the poor households are spending 10 % of their total household expenditure on tobacco.

            The scenario in Himachal Pradesh is quite alarming as far as consumption of tobacco products is concerned. As per the survey taken by Himachal Pradesh Voluntary Health Associations (HPHVA), in Shimla town, 68% men and 16% women in the State and 10% of the girls are addicted to tobacco usage.  According to HPHVA survey 12% people of 15 to 19 years, 33% people of 20 to 34 years and 44% of 35 to 49 years are smokers.  In the State 29.3% of school going children are smokers. In private school the number of smokers is about 31 percent.

            Though, 80% men are aware of the tobacco control yet 84% men interviewed continue smoking.

            The HPVHA aims at making Shimla a smoke free city in few months from now in co-operation with Health, Industries, Police and other in-line departments.

            The Himachal Pradesh Smoking and Non-Smokers Health Protection Bill, 1997 prohibits smoking in places of public works, public vehicles, sale, distribution or storage of tobacco related products in the vicinity of educational institutions, display and exhibition of boards at a conspicuous place in and outside the premises used by general public etc.

            The law agencies in Himachal Pradesh have been successful in enforcing no- smoking ban at public places including cinema halls, bus stands, railway stations, hospitals etc.

            The need of the hour is to create social acceptability to abandon the use of tobacco use by disseminating the fatal affects of its use. Tobacco control cannot be effective unless its supply is also restricted in a planned and phased manner. The government is committed in organizing awareness campaigns in tobacco growing regions to convince the growers of its hazard on health and environment. The Government is making efforts to indentify alternative crops to tobacco farming in all agro-climatic zones by adopting crop shift pattern.

            The central budget of 2008-09, has slashed discrimination between filter and non-filter cigarettes, by levying excise duties on non filter cigarettes at par with filter ones. The increase in taxes with pictorial warnings on the packets of tobacco will certainly help in making dent and create awareness in tobacco addicts.Issued by

Director,

Information & Public Relations,

Himachal Pradesh, Shimla-171002