Licence to ‘KILL’?

Rajasthan once again edged other states of the country in its efforts to control tobacco use by introducing vendor licensing, for the first time anywhere in India.

Soon, tobacco products will not be sold without licence in Rajasthan as  the government has made procuring of licence mandatory for sale of tobacco products within the boundaries of urban local bodies across the state. With this, licensed vendor will not be able to sale kid-friendly eatables at the shops, and failing to comply with the order will attract strict action under Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA).

The department of Local Self Governance issued an order to all urban local bodies in the state on Thursday, giving them direction to ensure that no one could sale, store, process, or distribute any tobacco products in open market without obtaining permission or licence from local body under section 269 of Rajasthan Municipal Act2009. The order also directs local bodies to prepare bylaws and necessary provision under rule no. j(vii) of subsection 1 of section 340 of Rajasthan Municipal Act 2009.

As per the order, shops with license for tobacco sale, could not sell non-tobacco products including toffees, chips, candies, biscuits, cold drinks and will have to strictly comply with COTPA, the Juvenile Justice (care and protection of children) Act 2015 and the Food Safety & Standard Act 2006.

“We thanks and congratulate the state government for this big initiative which is one of its kinds in whole nation as it reflects state government’s commitment towards securing child rights and public health,” Jayesh Joshi, Secretary of Vaagdhara, an institution working for tobacco control in Rajasthan said. 

Echoing the same emotion, Dharmveer Katewa, secretary of Indian Asthama Society said,“Liquor and weapons can kill individuals but tobacco makes the whole family of a victim children to suffer. Just like a licence system for liquor sale and possessing a weapon, the licence for tobacco sale will save our new generation from tobacco addiction.”

A World Health Organization (WHO) report says around 10 lakh people die in India every year because of smoke-related diseases such as cancer, respiratory and heart disorders. Tobacco abuse is a preventable cause of cancer, a disease growing at an alarming pace. Close to 60% cancers are preventable, of which 40% are related to tobacco.

Docs shoot letter to PM over pictorial warning:

Doctors and 10 medical associations of the country shot a letter to the prime minister Narendra Modi urging him not to reverse 85% pictorial warning on tobacco products as directed by the Karnataka High Court. Moreover, the warnings which have been in effect for almost 2 years have proven to be very effective in curbing the tobacco consumption in the country. The letter quoted the findings of Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2017 that showed how successful these warnings have been. The letter to PM Modi stated, “ Tobacco is literally a product that is producing millions of widows, orphans and bereaved parents. While India is celebrating the New Year, lakhs of families will be affected by this reversal bringing grief and financial ruin. ” SMS surgeon, Dr Pawan Singhal, said, “The photographs on tobacco packets correctly represent the disease caused by tobacco. In fact, many of the patients come to us with even more horrible diseases than shown on the tobacco packets. Most of these patients die in 3 to 6 months. Needless to say 80 to 90% mouth cancers are related to tobacco use.” —Rajiv Saxena