Smoking: Deadly addiction Is On Rise

Smoking has become a deadly addiction taking away thousands of lives ITC (Indian tobacco Company) posted third quarter results and saw a 2.25 per cent growth from the previous quarter in its cigarette volume which shows a constant rise in the smokers in India.

There are around 120 million smokers in India and 90 per cent of Oral & lung cancer are caused due to Tobacco, it’s fair to say a large part of public welfare in Union Health budget goes for it. And to the believe a report by Union Ministry of Health, diseases linked to smoking costs India a whopping 1 lakh crore each year. The government also increased 10% taxes on tobacco in its budget of 2016 but doesn’t seem to have an impact on the smokers.

Targeting young people as future customers, people in metro cities contribute the maximum to the sale of cigarettes. 27 per cent of the smokers spent an average of more than 50rs daily on smoking. Changing lifestyle and increase in income accounts for that.

The government has been doing its part by advertising in cinema halls, the compulsion of warning on packets, initiating No-smoking campaigns. And a poll says 65% people gave up smoking, thanks to these efforts. But the numbers are really daunting since the numbers of smokers have grown at a rapid rate since the new millennium.

But the question lies as to why the government doesn’t ban tobacco instead of spending on advertising? It is because of the mind-boggling revenue it gets with tobacco sales, which amounts to approximate 40,000 crores.

Now it gets to the general public to spread awareness and launch social media campaigns to reduce tobacco consumption which can save around 15 million lives each year and also save a huge amount of money for the government which could be used for other utilities.

Bollywood celebrities have been promoters of health and fitness and against smoking. Rahul Dravid is the brand ambassador of an anti-tobacco campaign and is an influential figure in promoting the campaign.

In the end, it’s we who have to convince ourselves against anti-smoking. On this world health day, let’s pledge to fight against this deadly addiction.