Tobacco use in
Arunachal Pradesh, India
An evil with many faces
AASA – ACTION AID SOCIETY ARUNACHAL
Introduction:
- Tobacco has been used in India for centuries. Early forms of tobacco were limited to chewing tobacco leaves or smoking tobacco. Today, several products made of, or containing tobacco, are available in the market.
- More than 4,000 different chemicals have been found in tobacco and tobacco smoke. More than 60 of these chemicals are known to cause cancer (carcinogens).
- Nicotine is a drug found in tobacco. It is highly addictive – as addictive as heroin or cocaine. Over time, a person becomes physically and emotionally addicted to, or dependent on, nicotine.
- Almost 30 percent of the Indian population older than age 15 uses some form of tobacco. Men use more smoked tobacco than smokeless tobacco.
- Women are more likely to use smokeless (chewed) tobacco. Beedis are smoked more than cigarettes.
- During Last 15 years Arunachal Pradesh became the 2nd highest state in regard to consuming of tobacco, Mizoram being No. 1 in the North East India.
- According to global Adult Tobacco survey (GATS) the current Tobacco use in any form in Arunachal Pradesh is 47.7% (64% Male and 31.7% Female) which is much higher than National average of 27.5%.
Smoked
Tobacco:
Beedis:
Crushed and dried tobacco is
wrapped in tendu leaves and rolled into a beedi. Smoking beedi is very common
in Arunachal Pradesh.
The frequent inhalation of
tobacco flakes has effects all and it increases risk of lung diseases and
cancers of the digestive tract. Its addiction is very common.
Cigarettes and
cigars:
Cigarette is roll of tobacco wrapped in paper. To entice more
users including women and youth and also to suggest the cigarettes have a lower
health risk, which they do not.
Cigarette smoking is very much
common in Arunachal Pradesh and cigar use is seen in the big cities. Cigarette
smoking in on the rise and is now also seen among teenage girls and young
women.
Chillum,
Hookah, Chutta is the other smoked tobacco.
Smokeless tobacco use:
Smokeless tobacco is very common in
Arunachal Pradesh, India. Tobacco or tobacco-containing products are chewed or
sucked as a quid, or applied to gums, or inhaled.
Khaini:
This is one of the most common
methods of chewing tobacco. Dried tobacco leaves are crushed and mixed with
slaked lime and chewed as a quid. The practice of keeping the quid in the mouth
between the cheeks and gums causes most cancers of the gums – the most common
mouth cancer in India.
Ghutka:
This
is rapidly becoming the most popular form of chewed tobacco in Arunachal
Pradesh, India. It is very popular among teenagers and children because it is
available in small packets (convenient for a single use), uses flavoring agents
and scents, and is inexpensive (as low as Re 2/- equivalent to 2 cents). Gutkha
consists of areca nut (betel nut) pieces coated with powdered tobacco,
flavoring agents, and other “secret” ingredients that increase the addiction
potential. Gutkha use is responsible for increased cases of oral cancers and
other disorders of the mouth and teeth in young adults.
Paan with
tobacco:
The
main ingredients of Paan are the betel leaf, areca nut (supari), slaked lime
(chuna), and catechu (katha), a popular form of chewed tobacco in Arunachal
Pradesh, It damage gums and having cancers of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus,
and stomach.
Paan Masala :
Paan masala is a commercial
preparation containing the areca nut, slaked lime, catechu, and condiments,
with or without powdered tobacco. It comes in attractive sachets and tins,
which are easy to carry and store. The tobacco powder and areca nut are
responsible for oral cancers in those who use these products a lot.
Other Smokeless tobacco:
Mishri, gudakhu and toothpastes,
Dry snuff, Gul (toothpaste powder) Mawa
If you
use tobacco in any form –
an effect:
People who use tobacco are at risk
for several cancers. Smokers are at risk for mouth (oral), larynx, and lung
cancers, and other serious diseases, such as heart and lung diseases,
circulatory disease, and stroke. Those who use tobacco that they put in their
mouth are at greatest risk for mouth cancer.
Mouth cancer is one of the
most common cancers in India due to the use of tobacco. Mouth (oral) cancer can
be found in the early stages with an oral exam by your doctor. Ask your doctor
about how often you should have an oral exam. Quitting all types of tobacco use
greatly reduces your risk for oral cancer. The best prevention is to avoid
tobacco use altogether. For help quitting, visit the NGOs and talk to your doctor.
Tobacco
Control Act in India
COTPA
Cigarettes and Other tobacco products (Prohibition of Advertisement and
Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act,
2003 COTPA is applicable to all products containing tobacco in any form i.e.
cigarettes, cigars, beedis, gutka, pan masala (containing tobacco), Mavva, Khaini, snuff etc.
The
Act extends to whole of India Main Provisions of Tobacco Control Act, 2003
Section
4 : Bans Smoking in all “public places A “public Place “ means any place to
which the public have access, whether as of right or not, and includes :
•
Hotels
•
Restaurants, coffee houses, pubs, bars, airport lounges, and other such places
visited by the general public
•
Workplaces
•
Shopping malls
•
Cinema Halls
•
Educational Institutions and Libraries
•
Hospitals
•
Auditorium, open auditorium, amusement centres, stadium, railway station, bus
stop etc.
Section
4 also provides Display of prominent non smoking signs eg. “Smoking here is
strictly prohibited” is mandatory at all public places COTPA Signage
Specifications.
The board shall be of minimum size of
60 cm by 30 cm of white background.
It shall contain a circle of no less than 15
cm outer diameter with a red perimeter of no less than 3 cm wide with a
picture, in the centre, of a cigarette or beedi with black smoke and crossed by
a red band.
The width of the red band across the cigarette shall equal
the width of the red perimeter
The board shall contain the warning “No Smoking Area- Smoking
Here is an Offence”, in English or one Indian language, as applicable
The board shall be prominently displayed at each entrance of
the public place and a conspicuous place(s) inside
Enforcement: Of section 4 can be done by following officers
Public places: Head of the institution, health directors, central/state
administrator heads, anti-tobacco nodal officers, Railways: Station leaders
Government offices: Gazettes officers
Hospitals: Hospital heads (i.e., directors, superintendents,
administration heads)
Post offices: Post masters
Private
offices/workplaces: Office head (i.e., managers, administration heads)
Educational institutions: Institution heads (i.e.,
principals, headmasters, teachers)
Libraries: Library heads, assistants,
and librarians
Airports: Airport heads (i.e., managers, airport/airline
officers) Compliance of the act Individuals in charge of public places and
workplaces (i.e., owners, proprietors, managers, supervisors) shall be held
responsible for complying with the law by ensuring.
Must be visible to consumer before pack is opened Enforcement
Agencies for implementation of tobacco control act
• Any Police Officer, not below the rank of Sub Inspector
• Any Officer of State Food or Drug Administration
• Any Officer, holding the equivalent rank, not below the
rank of Sub Inspector of Police. As authorized by Central/State Governments
Punishment For Violations
• A fine up to Rs.200/-for offenses relating to smoking in
public places and sale of tobacco products to minors; can be imposed by any
officer as authorized by the central/state govt.
• Offences relating to the direct and indirect advertising of
tobacco product is punishable with maximum of 2 years of imprisonment or/and
with fine upto Rs. 1000. In subsequent offence, imprisonment up to 5 years and
with fine upto Rs 5000/-
• Any person who produces or
manufactures cigarettes or other tobacco products which do not contain, either
on the package or on their label, the specified warnings and nicotine and tar
contents, shall in case of first conviction be punishable with imprisonment for
a term which may extend to two years , or with a fine which may extend to 5000
Rs , or with both and for the second and subsequent conviction , with
imprisonment for a term which may extend to 5 years and with fine which may
extend to 10000 Rs.
The
Mission of the Program
Save
Arunachal, Save Life, No to Tobacco
ORGANIZED BY: AASA
Arunachal Pradesh
Who We Are?
Action Aid
Society Arunachal (AASA)
Action Aid Society Arunachal (AASA) is a non-profit
organization and Non- Political, Grassroots based NGO which is working in the
various districts of Arunachal Pradesh since 2002. It is been managed by number
of likeminded people belong to different profession and academic background
known as a Visionary Board ,mainly consists of 3 committee
i.e., (1) The executive Board- who works full time and having social
works as academic background they are team who implement the programmes and
policies prepared by Visionary Board (2)
Advisory Board- This visionary board is group of people having diverse
professional expertise and skills, who voluntarily
give technical support to AASA when call to do so (3) Community Board-It is consist of
selective members of from Self Help
Group, Farmer Club and Youth Club and voluntarily works for development
programmes of AASA. It is registered under the Societies Registration Act of
1860 (Section 3 as modified by the Societies Registration (Extension to
Arunachal Pradesh) Act, 1978) on 17th April, 2002 bearing the registration
number SR/ITA/1179.
AASA believe in that “Wearer Knows where shoe pinches” so involving
community from identifying the core issues and problems, then planning and implementing
stages.
Contact Us
Please feel free to contact with Us
AASA – Action Aid Society Arunachal
Yoka Building, A-Sector
Near Helipad road Naharlagun. (Itanagar)
Papum Pare District (Arunachal Pradesh) Pin No. 791110
Yoka Building, A-Sector
Near Helipad road Naharlagun. (Itanagar)
Papum Pare District (Arunachal Pradesh) Pin No. 791110
Phone: 9436697207, 9958362264, 8974939531
Prepared by - @mide_riba, GS, AASA
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