According to the 2015-16 National Family Health Survey 4 (NFHS-4), the percentage of tobacco and alcohol users has plummeted significantly in the State of Rajasthan.
As per the survey, 19.1% men of the total male population consumed alcohol in 2005-06. This has reduced to 15.9% in 2015-16. Likewise, the percentage of males consuming tobacco has dropped from 60.4% to 46.9% over the past 10 years.
“The NFHS-4 data is good as it reports a decrease in tobacco use among adult women by 1.4% and men by 13.5% in comparison to the preceding NFHS-3,” said Dr Rakesh Gupta, president, Rajasthan Cancer Foundation( Jaipur centre).
“Although there is no data in this context to compare with NFHS-3, if this trend of quitting tobacco continues, I foresee a significant reduction in burden for the health and medical sector. Rajasthan has empowered doctors trained at SIFW, Jaipur, as master trainers or the district HQs under the National Tobacco Control Program (NTCP). We have to widely promote the benefits of quitting and strictly enforce COTPA. As poverty and illiteracy levels fall, tobacco use will reduce further,” Dr Gupta said.
The survey also indicated that 25.8% men and 37% women quit tobacco in the last 12 months, signalling a good sign for Rajasthan.
However, health experts feel that the impact of quitting tobacco will be seen in the coming years. “This is a good sign. But 46.9% males are still using some type of tobacco. This should be brought down significantly,” said Dr Virendra Singh who is an anti-tobacco crusader.
“Tobacco is the most common leading cause of preventable deaths in India. This decline in consumption is a real motivation to all the stakeholders who dream of a tobacco-free society,” said Dr Pawan Singhal, who is a social activist and associate professor (ENT) at SMS Hospital, Jaipur
Dr Singh said that the real impact of not consuming tobacco will be seen in 10-15 years.”Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the second biggest cause of death in Rajasthan. One of the major causes of COPD is smoking. So, if people stop smoking today, a significant reduction in COPD cases can be seen after 10-15 years.”
“We have now full-fledged district tobacco control cells in 17 districts. Collectors review the implementation of tobacco control policies and programmes on a quarterly basis in all 33 districts. We can conclude that investing in tobacco control is the true investment in our future generations,” said Narendra Singh, state consultant, National Tobacco Control Program.
With proliferated taxation rates imposed by State for Tobacco, people were quite likely to avert from buying tobacco. Hence, the fall in it’s consumption.
The State Government outstretched it’s reach and accentuated it’s meticulous efforts to curb the menace of tobacco in the State. Discouraging Tobacco has been a prime concern for the State Government.
Rajasthan is sure soaring new heights of success under the impeccable leadership of State’s Chief Minister who is a visionary in the true sense. Plummeting the consumption of tobacco is indeed a daunting task. People are highly addicted to the commodity and it is nearly impossible to render people to discontinue it’s usage.
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