adminKolkata, 31 st May, 2017: Tobacco use is the biggest cause of preventable death, disease and disability. The death clock of tobacco strikes every six seconds globally killing 12 lakh Indians every year.
According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2009-10 there are 2.28 crore tobacco users in West Bengal. Recent study jointly conducted by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India, who- India and PHFI found that West Bengal has the highest number of Cardio Vascular Disease cases, 2 nd highest number of cancer and respiratory disease affected patients and out of 4 female cancer patients in the country, one is from West Bengal (2014). The study also highlighted that in West Bengal we have spent Rs. 3440 crores in the year 2011 to treat tobacco related diseases as against Rs. 1,04,500 crores spent in India which means that country has spent more than 12% of all state and central health budget! It is a fact, as stated by WHO, that tobacco control would be the single biggest blow to ever increasing Non-Communicable Diseases.
On this premise, the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act (COTPA) was enacted in May 2003 essentially to discourage the consumption of cigarettes and other tobacco products and to protect our youths in particular and the general population in general from the harmful effects of tobacco use. This Act is applicable to the entire country.
Against this backdrop today a programme has been organized at Uttam Mancha, Kolkata to commemorate the World No Tobacco Day. The programme was graced by Mrs. Mala Roy, Chairperson, Kolkata Municipal Corporation, Mr. Debasish Kumar, MMIC, Parks & Gardens, Sports, Advertisement & Car Parking, Kolkata Municipal Corporation and Dr. Arnab Gupta, Director, Saraj Gupta Cancer Centre and Research Institute, Thakurpukur, Kolkata. All speakers were in favour of ban on smoking in public places and requested all to quit tobacco for welfare of our next generation.
Mrs. Papiya Sen, Executive Director, MANT categorically stated the importance of the enforcement of the law to save our future generation and non-smokers. Mr. Nirmalya Mukherjee, Director, MANT discussed on the issues relating to tobacco- a threat to development and said that in West Bengal we have received Rs. 491 crore as Vat from tobacco products while we have spent Rs. 3440 crore to treat tobacco related diseases in 2011.
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