Govt distances itself from Harsh Vardhan's activism on banning sale of loose cigarettes

New Health Minister Nadda asked not be hasty in amending COTPA

The Narendra Modi-led government wants to distance itself from the “activism” shown by Harsh Vardhan during his five-month tenure as the health minister on the issue of banning sale of loose cigarettes. The government said on Wednesday it favoured wider consultations between all stakeholders before bringing any amendments to the existing laws to restrict the sale of loose cigarettes or increase penalties for violations.

According to government sources, the idea of banning sale of loose cigarettes has been put on hold. They said any decision on the same or demands from activist groups that tobacco and areca nut cultivation be restricted will only be taken after factoring in “commercial interests and interests of farmers”.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu had convened a meeting on Tuesday to discuss “problems being faced by tobacco and arecanut growing farmers of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka”. The meeting asked the new health minister, J P Nadda, who replaced Vardhan in the Cabinet reshuffle in early November, not to take any “hasty decision” on amending the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products Act.

The meeting acknowledged the numerous representations by tobacco-growing farmers’ associations of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh about the adverse impact on their livelihood because of the proposed amendments in the Act. The meeting was attended by Nadda, chemicals and fertilisers minister Ananth Kumar, commerce minister Nirmala Sitharaman, former Karnataka chief minister and member of Parliament (MP) B S Yeddyurappa, and MPs from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

Naidu, who also discussed the issue with agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh, said tobacco and arecanut are two important cash crops in the country and in many parts, the livelihood of farmers depend on these products. “Without providing suitable alternative cash crops in tobacco and arecanut-growing areas, farmers should not be penalised by introducing drastic regulatory measures,” said a senior minister present at the meeting.

The meeting has proposed consultations among ministries as well as among state governments to resolve outstanding issues before any decision to restrict the sale of cigarettes, increase fines or ban the sale of cigarettes to people below 25 years, from the current 18 years. Naidu said banning the sale of loose cigarettes will lead to a shift in consumption from cigarettes to other cheaper tobacco products such as bidis, chewing tobacco. India is the second-largest tobacco producer in the world and its export earns it foreign exchange of Rs 6,000 crore annually.

Arecanut growers have also sent representations to the government requesting for review of any policies that restrict arecanut cultivation. Members said arecanut was an integral part of Indian tradition and has been used widely since ancient times in religious activities, weddings and other functions. “We also need to take with a pinch of salt scientific research that claims arecanut is harmful. In India, arecanut with beetle is known to be helpful in digestion,” said a minister, who attended the meeting. Nadda assured the meeting that he would look into all issues pertaining to tobacco and arecanut growers and the tobacco sector before taking any policy decision.