SHILLONG: Despite the Rajasthan High Court’s standing orders and Health Ministry’s notification, 85 per cent pictorial warning on tobacco products has not been implemented in Meghalaya.
As per the Health Ministry, implementation of 85 per cent pictorial warning should have been in place from April 1.
However, three weeks later, tobacco companies still continue to sell the old packets in the market.
Implementing the Central Government’s orders, the Governments of Maharashtra, Bihar and Goa have seized tobacco products worth crores of rupees.
As per Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2010, tobacco consumption kills about 12 lakh people every year in India.
In Meghalaya, 12 lakh people use cigarettes and bidis while another 7 lakh use smokeless tobacco. One-third of these are likely to die of heart diseases and pulmonary cancers.
Dr Amal Chandra Kataki, Director of Dr B. Borooah Cancer Institute, Guwahati said that most of the cancers are caused by tobacco.
He stressed the need for creating awareness among the people against the use of tobacco. Implementation of effective strategies such as implementation of 85 per cent pictorial pack warnings will discourage children from consuming tobacco products.
Dr Zulfi Hazarika said that doctors and not-for-profit organizations welcome the decision of 85 per cent pictorial pack warnings implementation by the Government and expect that the authorities will deal with the tobacco industry firmly in order to reduce prevalence.
Data for Meghalaya
35.70% prevalence of smoked tobacco; 7,81,973 users.
Cigarette prevalence 27.2%
Bidi prevalence 18.7%; 4,09,605 users.
Smokeless prevalance28.2%; 617693 users.
Gutka prevalence 1.20%; 26,285 users.
