The tobacco war

HAPPILY THERE ARE signs that the cigarette is being hounded out, and the addict actively discouraged, even forbidden, from puffing out his life. A Los Angeles jury has awarded a man with incurable lung and brain cancer a record $3 billion in punitive and $5.5 million in compensatory damages. In India, smoking is banned in public places of some cities and States, but a pending Bill which seeks to, among other things, curb advertisements, and save children and passive smokers from the poison is an important step in the fight against big tobacco. The Los Angeles decision, which penalises Philip Morris, is bound to open the gates for bolder verdicts, and one hopes that the Indian Government will take a cue from this to clean up its air, and, more important, promote a healthier lifestyle. Unfortunately, the administration has neglected this for far too long, and the sooner the Bill translates itself into an Act, the better it will be for a society where the use of tobacco - in just about every form - has had a devastating effect.

A recent survey found that there are 184 million tobacco consumers in India. About 20 per cent of them smoke cigarettes, another 40 per cent ``bidis'' and the rest chew tobacco. About 90 million cigarettes are lit every year, and at an average cost of Rs. 2 for each, Rs. 180 million is literally burnt, causing unimaginable suffering and loss. Nearly 800,000 people die every twelve months. Cancer and heart diseases kill and maim the most productive of Indians (and, of course, others), and what is even more tragic is that 55,000 children are sucked into this evil every year. But big firms and farmers have little remorse or regret. Perhaps, they just could not care less about the way they are instrumental in snuffing out lives. Also, they have one big advantage: tobacco is highly addictive and getting over it is impeded by horrible withdrawal symptoms. The WHO calls it a disease.

A new drug in the market to help men and women get over such physically-debilitating signs may be just a new ally in the battle to conquer this deadly menace, but what may ultimately swing the war in favour of a tobacco-free world is education. There are more signboards on AIDS than there are on smoking or chewing tobacco, although the first causes fewer deaths, at least now. A more concerted awareness programme can be the first move towards ridding the planet of venomous tobacco. But this has to be followed by a determined campaign in schools and even colleges. Let us not forget that most smokers and users walked into the trap in their teens, and manufacturers knew this a long time ago. Even in the early 1950s, they had begun the game of enticement by selling sugar sticks - which resembled the real stuff - to very young boys and girls hoping to enslave them for life. The makers had also thought up of innumerable other ways of expanding and keeping alive their market. So, one must understand that one is up against a powerful ``enemy'' out to pull out every stop. If teachers must continuously talk about the ills of tobacco, the Indian Government must seriously get down to helping farmers to shift to other crops. This may be effective in drying up raw material sources, though the cigarette packs can always flow in from outside our borders. Greater vigilance is necessary, but before that what is required is a strong will to banish tobacco.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Opinion
Previous : The saga of a heinous crime
Next     : Clean financing of parties