This was the message that emanated from a workshop for the media organized by several stakeholders including the National Rural Health Mission, Assam.
According to a report by International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, almost 44 per cent of people in North-east India are tobacco users, compared to 35 per cent in the rest of the country. Nine per cent are smokers who do not use less smokeless tobacco, 10 per cent smoke as well as consume smokeless tobacco, but 25 per cent use only smokeless tobacco and do not smoke.
During the period 1009-2010 when the study was done it was found that the total number of tobacco consumers in the North-east was around 12.7 million, of which 9.9 million consumed smokeless tobacco.
Drawing attention to the worrying scene, Dr JB Ekka, Mission Director, NRHM Assam, mentioned that the media has to play an effective role to raise awareness on the issue that has serious implications for a large number of people, including women and children.
Dr Jagdish Kaur of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, expressed serious concern that tobacco continued to be part of the lifestyle for many people, and this social acceptance has acted as a real hurdle in the effort to restrict tobacco consumption.
She identified the strong tobacco lobby as a force that also made it difficult to build and implement laws to reduce tobacco use in the country. The lobby was financially strong, and was even in a position to fund elections.
In an interview to The Assam Tribune, Dr Kaur was clear in stating that the State governments of North-east must formulate and implement a strategy to combat the menace of tobacco use.
Specifically mentioning the issue of children’s access to tobacco products, she described it as a serious challenge.
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