Union Ministers urge people to quit tobacco

Tobacco kills more than seven million people each year worldwide and is also an environment hazard as it generates thousands of tonnes of poisonous emissions and litter, Union Minister Harsh Vardhan said today and urged the people to quit it.
On World No Tobacco Day today, the Environment Minister joined the Health Minister, J P Nadda, in raising awareness about risks associated with tobacco use.
Vardhan tweeted that "as an ENT surgeon with long experience with millions of patients (I) can confirm Tobacco causes only DEATH (sic)".
He also recalled the enactment of 'Delhi prohibition of smoking in public places and non smokers health protection Act' by Delhi government back in 1996.

"Supreme Court had directed all state govts to enact similar anti tobacco legislation all over the country- happy FCTC helping the world now," he said, referring to WHO's anti-tobacco initiative .
He said tobacco costs the world's economies more than USD one trillion annually in healthcare expenditures and lost productivity.

"Tobacco generates 1000's of tonnes of poisonous emissions. Cigarette butts make upto 40 per cent of waste in coastal/urban areas," he said on twitter.
He said that up to 10 per cent of budget among the very poor population is spent on tobacco products.
"Tobacco kills more than seven million people each year. Around 890,000 of it is the result of passive smoking by non- smokers #worldnotobaccoday.

"Upto 10% of budgets among very poor population is spent on tobacco products, ie. Less for healthcare, food and education #worldnotobaccoday," he tweeted.
Yesterday, World Health Organisation (WHO) had said that India has lost 1,700 hectares of forest annually between 1962 and 2002 due to cultivation of tobacco in these areas.
The global health body said that stamping out its use can help nations reduce large-scale environmental degradation.
"#worldnotobaccoday; aims to raise awareness about risks associated with tobacco use & to reaffirm our commitment to reduce this menace," Nadda tweeted.
He also flagged off '#NoTobacco' awareness walkathon at Nirman Bhawan.

The WHO has conferred a special recognition award on Nadda for his commitment to advancing tobacco control in the country.