Time to
wake up to grave dangers of tobacco use, smoking
We have
several novel schemes introduced by respective governments both at the centre
as well as in states for the welfare of the common people. Unfortunately many
of these schemes are reduced to mere tokenism and the euphoria associated with it
dies down after some time as neither the
government machineries nor the people has genuine intent to ensure success of
these schemes.
Taking
into account grave dangers associated with use of tobacco related products as
well as smoking, many state governments in the country had enforced total ban of smoking at public
places and sale of tobacco mixed `gutkas’. Ironically impact of these bans is
far from satisfactory with majority of people in the country can be seen
flagrantly violating government rulings notwithstanding the fact these rulings/
bans have provisions of stringent punitive
measure for the offenders.
According
to report, the Central government is contemplating stringent measures including a 10-fold rise in the fine for
smoking in public and a ban on the sale of loose cigarettes, etc., under the anti-tobacco law to discourage
people from puffing at public places. However, the million dollar’s question
here is how much success these measures
will ensure is debatable, given people’s lack of concern for these laws, dangers associated with use of tobacco related
products as well as their penchant for
violating laws.
Mere
enactment of laws cannot ensure success of public welfare schemes, strict
disciplinary provisions for the offenders of laws and a genuine awareness among
people to abide by government’s rulings are perquisite for success of such
schemes.
According
to a recent report prepared by the Public Health Foundation of India, total
economic costs attributable to tobacco use from all diseases in India in 2011
amounted to a staggering Rs 1,04,500 crore-12% more than the combined state and
central government expenditure on health care in the same year.
It is
high time we woke up to grave dangers of tobacco use which accounts for 40%
cancers in India.
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