WEDNESDAY, JULY 02, 2025
Tobacco Burden
Published on May 29, 2025
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- Studies have shown that India has made progress in reducing the use of tobacco, both smoked and smokeless, over the years, thanks to aggressive awareness campaigns initiated by the government and non-governmental organisations, as well as laws and policies to discourage tobacco use. This is encouraging. However, the same can’t be said about the consumption of smokeless tobacco like gutkha, pan masala, and khaini, despite serious health risks posed by it, especially oral cancer. As per the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), 2019–21, a staggering 38 per cent of men and nine per cent of women age 15 and over use tobacco in India. Tobacco use is alarmingly high in the north-eastern states with Mizoram (73 per cent men, 63 per cent women) topping the list. According to the survey, 48.4 percent of men and 13.7 per cent of women age 15 and above use tobacco in Nagaland, which is significantly higher than the national average. Notably, health experts have linked the high cancer prevalence in the northeast to rampant use of tobacco. This should be taken seriously to reduce public health risks and economic challenges associated with it.
- The government of India has implemented several regulatory measures, including mandatory display of pictorial and text health warning labels prominently on the tobacco packages, in an attempt to reduce tobacco consumption. Through the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, the government has prohibited smoking in public places and advertising and sale of tobacco products to minors. The government has also enacted the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA), 2019, prohibiting the manufacture, sale, trading, and advertisement of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). While the reduction in the consumption of tobacco in the country can be attributed to these laws, much needs to be done to stop the menace. We can’t afford to sit on the little progress made over the years. We need to remind ourselves that India is still the world’s second-largest consumer of tobacco. The World No Tobacco Day, which is observed every year on May 31, should serve as a reminder of the shortcomings as well as the importance of anti-tobacco awareness. The higher tobacco use among the rural populace, as compared to their counterparts in urban areas, indicates that educating the general public about the consequences of tobacco use on health, economy, and environment is vital for a tobacco-free society. Promoting a healthy lifestyle can go a long way in enhancing quality of life.
Nagaland Districts
