14 Years Of Tobacco Ban in Gujarat, Yet 38% Of Men Continue To Consume Tobacco
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Gujarat's ban on the production, storage and sale of gutkha and tobacco- or nicotine-containing pan masala has been extended for the 14th consecutive year. However, despite the prolonged ban, tobacco consumption remains a concern in the state, with government data showing that a significant proportion of adults continue to use tobacco.
According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 2023-24 data cited for Gujarat, 38.40% of men and 7% of women aged 15 years and above consume tobacco in some form.
In simple terms, nearly 38 out of every 100 adult men in Gujarat are reported to consume tobacco.
Ban Exists, But Tobacco Sales Continue
The ban covers the production, storage and sale of gutkha and pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine. However, the continued availability and consumption of such products has raised questions over the effectiveness of enforcement.
According to the figures cited, tobacco and pan masala products worth more than ₹3,000 crore are sold in Gujarat every year, despite the ban having been in place for 14 years.
38.4% Does Not Mean All Use Gutkha
The NFHS figure of 38.40% among men should not be interpreted as the percentage of gutkha users.
The survey covers the consumption of different forms of tobacco, including cigarettes, bidis, khaini, mawa, chewing tobacco and gutkha, among other products.
Similarly, the 7% figure for women represents tobacco consumption in various forms and does not specifically indicate gutkha consumption.
Government Highlights Cancer Risk
The Gujarat government's notification cites research by institutions including Tata Memorial Hospital and the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, stating that consumption of gutkha and pan masala can be carcinogenic and significantly increase the risk of oral cancer.
The notification also cites the Global Adult Tobacco Survey, according to which around 35% of adults in India consume tobacco, while about 21% use smokeless tobacco.
Ban Covers Tobacco And Nicotine Products
According to the government's notification, the prohibition applies to gutkha and pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine, irrespective of the name under which they are sold.
The continued prevalence of tobacco consumption despite the long-standing prohibition has raised concerns over enforcement and the availability of banned tobacco products in the state.
