Syllabus
GS Paper 2 – Social Sector: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Context
Tobacco use in India poses severe health, environmental, and economic challenges.
Source
The Hindu | Editorial dated 31st May 2024
The Tobacco Epidemic in India
Tobacco consumption is a critical public health issue in India, being the second-highest consumer of tobacco globally. This widespread usage leads to significant health risks not only for consumers but also for those involved in its cultivation and production. The extensive environmental and economic impacts further complicate the issue, necessitating comprehensive and effective control measures.
Status of Tobacco Use in India
- Survey Data sourced from:
- Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS): This survey focuses on individuals aged 15 years and older.
- Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS): This survey targets students aged 13 to 15 years.
- National Family Health Survey (NFHS)
- Decline in Usage:
- There has been a decline in tobacco use across various population groups.
- Except for a 2.1% increase among women from 2015-2016 to 2019-2021.
Negative Effects of Tobacco Consumption
Health Impact
- High Consumption in India:
- India has nearly 26 crore tobacco consumers, second only to China, based on estimates from 2016-2017.
- Leading Cause of Disease and Death:
- Tobacco is acknowledged worldwide as the most preventable cause of disease and death.
- It leads to a wide range of diseases affecting millions who consume tobacco.
- Health Risks for Workers:
- Over 60 lakh people are employed in the tobacco industry.
- These workers are at risk due to tobacco absorption through the skin, leading to various health issues.
Environmental Impact
- Soil Depletion:
- Nutrient Depletion: Tobacco cultivation significantly depletes soil nutrients, requiring more fertilizers that further degrade soil quality.
- Deforestation:
- Up to 5.4 kg of wood is needed to process 1 kg of tobacco, contributing to deforestation.
- Waste Generation:
- The production and consumption of tobacco generate nearly 1.7 lakh tonnes of waste each year in India.
Economic Impact
- Less returns for farmers:
- For large-scale tobacco farmers, the net return per rupee of investment in jowar cultivation (1.84) is higher than tobacco (1.48).
- Healthcare Costs:
- Tobacco-related health issues cost India over ₹1.7 lakh crore in the fiscal year 2017-2018, surpassing the Union Budget allocation for health, which was ₹48,000 crore.
- Cleanup Costs:
- Cleaning up tobacco waste costs an additional ₹6,367 crore annually.
Tobacco Control Initiatives
- WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC):
- India is one of the 168 signatories aiming to reduce global tobacco use through comprehensive strategies.
- COTPA 2003:
- The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act governs production, advertisement, distribution, and consumption of tobacco.
- National Tobacco Control Program (NTCP):
- Launched in 2007 to enhance COTPA and FCTC implementation, raise awareness, and help people quit tobacco use.
Challenges in Implementation
- Poor Enforcement:
- Non-Compliance: Many smokeless tobacco products do not comply with COTPA packaging guidelines, and smuggled products are poorly regulated.
- NTCP Limitations:
- Lack of Impact: A 2018 study found no significant reduction in bidi or cigarette consumption between NTCP and non-NTCP districts, indicating program inefficacy.
- Inadequate Fines:
- Outdated Penalties: Fines for COTPA violations have not been updated since 2003, remaining insufficient as deterrents.
- Surrogate Advertising:
- Indirect Marketing: Ambiguities in the COTPA allow surrogate advertisements using proxy products like elaichi, indirectly promoting tobacco.
- Increased Affordability:
- Tobacco products have become more affordable over the years due to low taxes and tax evasion practices.
- Taxes on cigarettes, bidis, and smokeless tobacco products are significantly lower than the FCTC’s recommended 75%.
- Industry Lobbying:
- The tobacco industry exerts strong lobbying efforts affecting tax policies and regulations.
- Use of E-Cigarettes:
- Despite the 2019 ban on e-cigarettes , they remain a significant public health concern in India.
- Lack of Recent Data:
- Data Gaps: No surveys have been conducted since the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving recent trends unmonitored.
Recommendations for Improvement
- Proposed Amendments: Amendments to COTPA had been proposed in 2015 and 2020. but neither amendment was passed.
- 2015 Proposal: Suggested regulations on surrogate advertisements and increased fines by tenfold.
- 2020 Proposal: Suggested licensing for production, supply, and distribution of tobacco products.
- These proposals must be reconsidered for stringent control of tobacco consumption.
- Stronger Enforcement:
- Improved Implementation: Stricter enforcement of COTPA, PECA, and NTCP is needed to curb tobacco use effectively.
- Higher Taxes:
- Tax Increase: Raise tobacco taxes in line with FCTC recommendations, inflation, and GDP growth to reduce affordability.
- Alternative Crops for Farmers:
- Support Programs: Help tobacco farmers switch to higher-return crops, as demonstrated by studies from the Central Tobacco Research Institute.
- Up-to-Date Data:
- Regular Surveys: Conduct frequent surveys to track tobacco use trends and adapt control strategies accordingly.
Conclusion
India’s fight against tobacco requires stringent implementation of existing regulations, higher taxation, and support for alternative livelihoods for tobacco farmers. Addressing these challenges with a robust and comprehensive strategy is essential to mitigate the severe health, environmental, and economic impacts of tobacco use.
Related Topic
National Tobacco Control Programme
National Tobacco Control Programme is being implemented in about 612 districts in all States/UTs.
Objectives:
- To bring about greater awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco use and Tobacco Control Laws.
- To facilitate effective implementation of the Tobacco Control Laws.
- The objective of this programme is to control tobacco consumption and minimize the deaths caused by it. The various activities planned to control tobacco use are as follows:
- Training and Capacity Building
- IEC activity
- Monitoring Tobacco Control Laws and Reporting
- Survey and Surveillance
NTCP is implemented through a three-tier structure:
- National Tobacco Control Cell (NTCC) at Central level
- State Tobacco Control Cell (STCC) at State level &
- District Tobacco Control Cell (DTCC) at District level. There is also a provision of setting up Tobacco Cessation Services at District level.
References
Related PYQ
Appropriate local community-level healthcare intervention is a prerequisite to achieve ‘Health for All ‘ in India. Explain. [ UPSC Civil Services Exam – Mains 2018]
Practice Question
Discuss the multifaceted impact of tobacco use in India. Evaluate the effectiveness of current control measures and suggest improvements. [250 words]