World No Tobacco Day is observed every year on May 31 to raise awareness of preventable death and disease caused by tobacco. The theme this year is "protecting children from tobacco industry interference".
World No Tobacco Day was commemorated today with the aim of informing the general population about the harmful consequences of tobacco.
It serves as a powerful reminder of the dangers associated with tobacco use and the urgent need to eliminate this global epidemic.
Around 3.5 million hectares of land are converted for tobacco growing each year globally.
Expressing his satisfaction at the timely event, the Minister said, “In India, over 1.3 million deaths are attributable to tobacco use every year amounting to 3500 deaths per day, imposing a lot of avoidable socio-economic burden. In addition to the death and diseases it causes, tobacco also impacts the economic development of the country.”
In order to comply with WHO FCTC Protocol on Elimination of Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, ban on sale of duty-free export and import of tobacco and exclusive vendor licensing not only under existing laws but ‘as may be prescribed’ under COTPA as well is needed.
Shimla, the fourth city, in India to be declared smoke free nine years back.
Addiction to tobacco, especially smoking, is a major health problem globally and is the cause of serious respiratory diseases such as asthma.
Tobacco chewing, especially among the poor, is considered the single biggest cause for oral cancer in India
Many people feel healthier after quitting smoking as they gave up the habit due to family pressure, rising cigarette price…
