The tobacco epidemic

HAR fiqr ko dhuen mein udaata chala gaya…runs the refrain of a popular Hindi song that validates the somewhat romanticised status of smokers—as carefree souls who can puff away their worries and cares. The only success model that can offer some inspiration to break this image of tobacco addiction in our society is the Polio Plus campaign. For, it was based primarily on generating awareness among the masses. Unlike other addictions which are considered a social taboo, tobacco use is hard to control because of its cultural acceptance in most states. In Haryana, it is customary to offer a hukkah to a guest, which has to follow a proper protocol. Even among women, offering hukkah to the elderly is a sign of showing respect. Any number of men and women do not feel any hesitation asking for a packet of gutkha or paan masala, even at their work place, which contain varying percentage of tobacco.  

With such cultural connotations attached to tobacco intake in its variants — from smoking cigarettes to eating gutkha, the governments are hard-pressed to find solutions to curtail the growing menace.  About 2500 people die every day due to tobacco-related diseases in India. And chewing of tobacco and gutkha contributes to 90 per cent of oral cancer. Despite harsher pictorial warnings on tobacco products and many state governments like Bihar, Kerala  and Madhya Pradesh banning the sales of these items, the menace seems to remain unabated. In fact, a survey conducted in 23 cities of India shows a rise in the number of smokers, especially those belonging to the fair sex.
While in developed countries, the number of smokers has come down, the practice of consuming smokeless tobacco makes the banning of tobacco more challenging in India. On World No Tobacco Day, it was heartening to observe that efforts are made to regulate the contents of gutkha, which is supposed to follow the Food Safety and Standards Association of India Act, and should not have any trace of tobacco.