BANGALORE: About 50% children below the age of 10 in rural Karnataka have experimented with smokeless tobacco (like gutka and khaini) or smoking tobacco, imitating parents, grandparents and other elders in the family, says a recent study by Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. As per the 2010 Global Adult Tobacco Survey, 40% males and 16% females above the age of 15 years use tobacco in Karnataka, and 37% of them are exposed to passive smoking at public places. As per the Global Youth Tobacco Survey, 8% boys and 2% girls in the 13-15 age group are tobacco users, while 47% are exposed to passive smoking outside their homes.
Yet, a year after the Centre asked all states to ban sale of smokeless tobacco products like gutka and khaini, the Karnataka government is yet to get going. On August 1, 2011, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, of the ministry of health and family welfare, had issued a notification stating that tobacco and nicotine should not be used as ingredients in any food products. It also said that all smokeless tobacco products such as gutka and khaini be banned.
BAN UNDER CONSIDERATION
"The commissioner of food safety recently sent a proposal to the health and family welfare department, recommending a ban on gutka and smokeless tobacco products in Karnataka, which is under consideration," said Dr EV Ramanna Reddy, secretary, health and family welfare department.
So far, only five states, including Kerala and Maharashtra, have banned the sale of gutka. On July 12, 2012, Maharashtra took a step forward and also banned the sale of paan masala.
Karnataka is in a vulnerable position as far as the ban on gutka and smokeless tobacco products is concerned. Neither has it taken any remedial steps in this direction.
"There is no governance in Karnataka to take care of this issue. Sale of chewing tobacco and its accessibility to young children is harming our society. Oral cancer is spreading fast in India. As a specialist, I see at least one oral cancer patient a day in the age group of 30-32 years. This shows that tobacco products are easily accessible to the youth," said Dr US Vishal Rao, leading oncologist and director, Cancer Prevention Project, at the Institute of Public Health.
Times View
It's been a year since the ministry of health banned tobacco products like gutka and khaini, but there is little evidence of it in Karnataka. The state government has not taken any steps to end the menace, though the effect of tobacco on public health is known. While five states, including Maharashtra, have ensured stringent measures, Karnataka is yet to wake up. Tobacco products are freely available and children are falling prey to the addiction. Eventually, it is up to the people to spread awareness on tobacco's killer effects
Yet, a year after the Centre asked all states to ban sale of smokeless tobacco products like gutka and khaini, the Karnataka government is yet to get going. On August 1, 2011, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, of the ministry of health and family welfare, had issued a notification stating that tobacco and nicotine should not be used as ingredients in any food products. It also said that all smokeless tobacco products such as gutka and khaini be banned.
BAN UNDER CONSIDERATION
"The commissioner of food safety recently sent a proposal to the health and family welfare department, recommending a ban on gutka and smokeless tobacco products in Karnataka, which is under consideration," said Dr EV Ramanna Reddy, secretary, health and family welfare department.
So far, only five states, including Kerala and Maharashtra, have banned the sale of gutka. On July 12, 2012, Maharashtra took a step forward and also banned the sale of paan masala.
Karnataka is in a vulnerable position as far as the ban on gutka and smokeless tobacco products is concerned. Neither has it taken any remedial steps in this direction.
"There is no governance in Karnataka to take care of this issue. Sale of chewing tobacco and its accessibility to young children is harming our society. Oral cancer is spreading fast in India. As a specialist, I see at least one oral cancer patient a day in the age group of 30-32 years. This shows that tobacco products are easily accessible to the youth," said Dr US Vishal Rao, leading oncologist and director, Cancer Prevention Project, at the Institute of Public Health.
Times View
It's been a year since the ministry of health banned tobacco products like gutka and khaini, but there is little evidence of it in Karnataka. The state government has not taken any steps to end the menace, though the effect of tobacco on public health is known. While five states, including Maharashtra, have ensured stringent measures, Karnataka is yet to wake up. Tobacco products are freely available and children are falling prey to the addiction. Eventually, it is up to the people to spread awareness on tobacco's killer effects
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