Why Tobacco is a Concern With Us?

We are concerned about the coming generation and their welfare. We have identified Tobacco and substance abuse as one such aberration which can be tackled easily if proper information and guidance is provided at the right time. The age of 10 to 25 definitely falls in that vulnerable age group. Reaching young people at the right time and sensitising them is one of our concerns.

Tobacco is one of the major killers in India, accounting for near one million deaths every year and likely to reach 3 million by 2020. The variety of forms of tobacco use is unique to India. Apart from the smoked forms that include cigarettes, beedi's and cigars, a plethora of smokeless forms (including Gutka, Jurda, Khaini, etc.) of consumption exist and they account for about 35 percent of the total tobacco consumption.

According to the National Family Health Survey-2 conducted in 1998-99, the prevalence rate among males for chewing tobacco was 28.3 and for smoking tobacco, 29.4 percent (Total 57.7%). For females, the corresponding prevalence rates were 12.4 and 2.5 percent respectively. According to another estimate over 50% of Indian population consume some form of tobacco.

The GOI has also shown its commitment in tackling this problem. As we all are aware that in the endeavor towards promoting public health, the Govt. of India has already ratified the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) on February 5th 2004. An international treaty negotiated under the auspices of the World Health Organization (WHO), aimed at curbing tobacco-related deaths and disease. India has become the seventh country to ratify the convention. This exhibits a strong commitment to tobacco control, in light of the fact that India is a major tobacco consuming and producing nation.

The FCTC has been signed by 168 countries and 55 have already ratified the treaty. With effect from 27th February 2005 the treaty has become binding on all signatories. India signed the FCTC on 10th Sep 2003 and has already ratified the FCTC on 5th Feb 2004.

Even before the FCTC was adopted at the WHA, the Govt. of India initiated and enacted the national tobacco-control legislation titled, “The Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003”.

While the Government & WHO are putting in efforts but without the active cooperation of the young people nothing much can be achieved. Tobacco use is a deep rooted menace of our society in which millions of young people get trapped every year. It is estimated that over 5000 young people take to this habit every day in India.

The first priority should be to dissuade the young people from getting into the “Tobacco Trap” and for this, they need to be educated and informed. To facilitate dissemination of proper knowledge and consequences of tobacco use and to actively involve young people against tobacco use we have devised this project.

Let’s not allow the generation-next to repeat the same mistakes that the elder generation did.
 

Some 2004 Activities