Smoking issues: Is it political gains vs. health?
The recent ruling of the Delhi government to withdraw tax on hookah tobacco has raised many eyebrows. Experts from the medical fraternity argue that the recent decision has been made for mere political gains.
Pritha Roy Choudhury
April 27: The recent startling decision of the Delhi government to withdraw tax on hookah tobacco has compelled many aware citizens of the country to question the motive behind such an act.
It is an established fact that smoking tobacco in any form is harmful for human beings.
It may be mentioned that the decision to withdraw the 12.5 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) was taken after a group of people from Delhi villages, led by two Congress MLAs, Surinder Kumar and Balram Tanwar, recently met Finance Minister A.K. Walia and argued that smoking hookahs was part of the traditional culture of villages.
Dr. A B Dey, Senior Consultant, All India Institute of Medical Sciences argues the very possibility of its traditional use saying, “tobacco was brought to India by the Portuguese. These are all political decisions. After all the tobacco industry survives for political gains. Politicians are only doing lip service where anti-tobacco campaign is concerned.”
Dr. Dey lashed out at the government, saying the recent ruling of the government shows how serious it is about the health of its people. He said that the ill effects of tobacco and tobacco products are facts proven the world over.
Meanwhile flourishing owners of the Hookah Bar Restaurants in the capital and its outskirts feel that the decision seems to be encouraging smokers and might act as a boon for their business.
“You see all the smokers know that smoking is injurious to health. But with the present ruling many smokers might shift to the usage of hookahs. We know that hookah tobacco is filtered and has only four per cent of nicotine. So it will be beneficial in one-way or the other. Another aspect is that hookah smokers cannot use hookah in public places because it is cumbersome to carry such a huge thing. So this will discourage passive smoking,” said Mr Daman Sodhi, Owner, Oz, a Hookah Bar Restaurant in Gurgaon.
Regular smokers however feel that the ruling will not affect them in any way.
“See those who smoke or are addicted to smoking, imposing or waving off tax will not make any difference”, said Amit, a university student and a chain smoker.
Health hazards of tobacco use
It is an established fact that smoking tobacco in any form is harmful for human beings.
It may be mentioned that the decision to withdraw the 12.5 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) was taken after a group of people from Delhi villages, led by two Congress MLAs, Surinder Kumar and Balram Tanwar, recently met Finance Minister A.K. Walia and argued that smoking hookahs was part of the traditional culture of villages.
Dr. A B Dey, Senior Consultant, All India Institute of Medical Sciences argues the very possibility of its traditional use saying, “tobacco was brought to India by the Portuguese. These are all political decisions. After all the tobacco industry survives for political gains. Politicians are only doing lip service where anti-tobacco campaign is concerned.”
Dr. Dey lashed out at the government, saying the recent ruling of the government shows how serious it is about the health of its people. He said that the ill effects of tobacco and tobacco products are facts proven the world over.
Meanwhile flourishing owners of the Hookah Bar Restaurants in the capital and its outskirts feel that the decision seems to be encouraging smokers and might act as a boon for their business.
“You see all the smokers know that smoking is injurious to health. But with the present ruling many smokers might shift to the usage of hookahs. We know that hookah tobacco is filtered and has only four per cent of nicotine. So it will be beneficial in one-way or the other. Another aspect is that hookah smokers cannot use hookah in public places because it is cumbersome to carry such a huge thing. So this will discourage passive smoking,” said Mr Daman Sodhi, Owner, Oz, a Hookah Bar Restaurant in Gurgaon.
Regular smokers however feel that the ruling will not affect them in any way.
“See those who smoke or are addicted to smoking, imposing or waving off tax will not make any difference”, said Amit, a university student and a chain smoker.
Health hazards of tobacco use
According to a study by the federal health ministry, the health hazards in the tobacco industry are relatively high –34 per 100 population, especially suffer from tuberculosis and cancer.
In India more than 40 percent of cancer cases are due to tobacco use.
Tobacco Industry
The tobacco industry is fragmented across the country, with around 200 manufacturers in every state. But Madhya Pradesh is the major producer of tobacco products because of easy availability of raw material in the state.
Tobacco is an important commercial crop in India. It is raised on an area of about 4 lakh hectares with an annual production ranging from 500 to 550 M.Kgs.
History
The Portuguese merchants first brought tobacco to India 400 years ago. But it was the Goan legislature, which passed the toughest anti-tobacco law in the world in 1997.
The Goa Prohibition of Smoking and Spitting Act prohibits smoking and spitting chewed tobacco in public places including bus stands, beaches, and public transport.
It bans all tobacco advertising in the state and the sale of tobacco products within 100 meters of school or any place of worship. After a long-term public education campaign involving the state's school children, the law has now been well received.
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