It is stupid to argue that consuming less cigarettes will not harm tobbacco growers. It might indeed harm them, but the issue is not one of profitability of the grower. It is one of social responsibility. Why should one consume cigarettes at all, given the fact that such a habit is the main cause of heart attacks, where many families are left without the bread winner?

Somehow or the other, our Ministers are more bothered only about economics. Even if all the tobacco growers land up in absolute poverty -- this is not really going to happen in the near future at all -- so be it. Let us not bother about them.

Our Government should be more bothered about providing better health facilities and good schools for children. Let the Government bother about sanitation and supply of good drinking water.

Yes, the Government is right in taxing the cigarette users and if such guys smoke less, the society will be a more happier place to live in.

I never said beedi is harmless, (if it was I would have started smoking bidiwhen I gave up smoking 11 years before) but I only said it does not harm as much as cigarette does. Besides, it contains no paper and very less quantity of tobacco that makes it lesser dangerous. However I have no intention to convince anyone to start smoking bidi. You will have to agree once you forbid something forcefully people try to taste it out of curiosity so making them out of reach by hiking prices is the best strategy. it will at least keep the consumption down.

Exactly, then hike the duty on beedis also so that the poor keep away from it. Less tobacco per beedi is made up by smoking more beedis.

I have seen people smoking handmade cigarettes (by using raw tobacco available in open market) rolling tobacco in any paper available. Once you make bidi out of reach of poor people which is made of Tendu leaves comparatively safer than paper. I remember when I started smoking a pack of wills 10 cigs used to cost 60 paise. Now it costs close to 100 Rs ( I am not sure though) but the consumption hasn't gone down.

I agree. In fact, government need not be moral guardian. It is okay to give health advice but it is for citizens to decide what they will consume. It is unjust to tax heavily those who decide to consume cigarettes or drink alcoholock drink. Once Swantra Party MN.P. Pilu Modi remarkd that he did not drink but nobody could snatch his right to drink.

I agree. In fact, government need not be moral guardian. It is okay to give health advice but it is for citizens to decide what they will consume. It is unjust to tax heavily those who decide to consume cigarettes or drink alcoholock drink. Once Swantra Party MN.P. Pilu Modi remarkd that he did not drink but nobody could snatch his right to drink.

That's what I am saying too. Stop tobacco forming in India and see the result, there are so many easy routs that will flood the Indian market with illegal means. Let the government make money for welfare of its citizen instead money going to Pakistan and Afghanistan for tobacco. Cigarettes Made in China will find an easy entry in India through Nepal. Ban is no substitute of anything and it doesn't work anywhere in the world.