Discouraging Tobacco Consumption by the People Tobacco is the foremost preventable cause of death and disease in the world today. Globally, it kills nearly 6 million people, of which 0.6 million premature deaths can be attributed to exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS). As per the report of Tobacco Control in India (2004), nearly 8-9 lakh people die every year due to diseases attributable to tobacco use. As per the ICMR study Assessment of Burden of Disease due to Non-Communicable Diseases (2006)", based on analysis of published literature till 2004, the risk of disease attributable to tobacco use was 78% for stroke, 65.6% for tuberculosis, 85.2% for ischemic heart disease, 52% for acute myocardial infarction, 43% for oesophageal cancer, and 16% for lung cancer, respectively. As per the NCDIR-NCRP Report on Time Trends in Cancer Incidence Rate: 1982-2010", Oral Cancers of Tongue in males showed a statistically significant increase in Age-Adjusted Incidence Rate along with Annual Percentage Change in Chennai (1.35) and Delhi (1.73). Mouth Cancers in males showed a statistically significant increase in Age-Adjusted Incidence Rate in Bhopal (2.97), Delhi (2.93), and Mumbai (1.35). The estimated incidence of Oral Cancer cases in India, State/UT-wise, for the year 2015 is enclosed at Annexure. The Government has taken a series of measures to deter people from consuming various tobacco products: (i) Enactment of the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, (COTPA) 2003". (ii) Ratification of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. (iii) Launch of the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) in the year 2007-08, with the objectives to (a) create awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco consumption, (b) reduce the production and supply of tobacco products, (c) ensure effective implementation of the anti-tobacco laws and (d) help the people quit tobacco use through Tobacco Cessation Centres. (iv) Notification of rules to regulate depiction of tobacco products or their use in films and TV programmes. (v) Notification of rules on new pictorial health warnings on tobacco product packages. (vi) Launch of public awareness campaigns through a variety of media. The States/UTs are regularly advised by this Ministry to implement various provisions of tobacco control laws in letter and spirit. Besides, under the National Tobacco Control Programme, there is a provision for conducting law enforcers training in the States/UTs aimed at improving the enforcement of tobacco control laws. The Health Minister, Shri J P Nadda stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha here today.
