Govt. not keen to curb consumption of Tobacco

The sale of tobbacco products should be banned. However, keeping in view the number of people involved in the sector, it is unlikely.

The only other method to control its use is educating the people of its harmful effects.

It is easy to understand why the Government is not keen to curb the use of tobacco, it sthe biggest revenue-generating industry in India.

India is one of the biggest tobacco markets in the world, ranking third in total tobacco consumption behind only the markets of China and the United States. A popular notion upheld by the tobacco industry is-"economy needs tobacco." This argument pertains to industry supporting revenue generation for farmers and workers in the tobacco factories, distributors, vendors, and advertising agencies, and profits to government from exports and taxes. It is estimated from the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) data that almost 85% of employees of tobacco manufacturing industries are employed in the beedi industry. Export of tobacco is an important source of revenue with a quantity of 1,28,460 M, generating a revenue of 2173 crore rupees for the year 2009. A major part of this revenue comes from the export of unmanufactured tobacco (as high as 85%).

Of the 4 major manufacturers of cigarettes in India, the ITC Limited, Godfrey Phillips India (GPI) Limited, Vazir Sultan Tobacco (VST) Industries Limited, and the Golden Tobacco Company (GTC) Limited, the ITC Limited alone accounts for more than 60% of the total production and 80% of the sales and market share. [13]

The annual turnover of the leading tobacco companies, such as ITC and Godfrey Phillips presently exceeds Rs 2000 crores (>$450 million).

In 2000-2001, the contribution of tobacco to the Indian economy was to the extent of Rs 81,820 million, which accounted for about 12% of the total excise collections. From 1951 to 2001, there was an increase in the production by 130%, in excise revenue by 31,614%, in export revenue by 5823%, and in consumption by 92%. Tobacco contributes about 4% to the India's agricultural exports. and steadily increasing!

Kalyani. The statistics provided by you only give an idea of revenue received by Govt. from tobacco industry. However, a state is not a business house with the aim pf earning revenue. The revenue earned on tobacco is offset by expenses on fighting cancer and other diseases.

if govt is not keen to curb the use of tobacco,then the only method to control tobacco consumption is to educate people about the harmful effects of tobacco....


:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

What i should say on this i am agree with all the members that Tobacco should be banned...

No govt specially in india.. wont take such a chance of banning it.
So coming to the ground realities this problem can't be solved at a massive level.In my opinion it's best to make our own small efforts to curb this problem!!

@Gulshan, I agree with you completely but we can't forget that these tobacco industrialists are totally in cahoots with the politicians who give permission and support for these industries to thrive. These indistrialists are the ones who provide major part of funds for the election campaigns and such and hence the soft approach. Even if the revenue earned through tobacco is offset by funds to fight cancer, it is not a primary concern for anyone as long as the money keeps coming in.

My point is just this. The govt. decided that the tobacco products should carry a statutory warning along with a frightening picture. This decision is now being delayed. If a decision is taken, why delay implementation.

Right Gulshan, we can only keep speculating thereasons for delay!!

Just for information, a bit of information I came to know recently, for every bottle of beer sold in India, Sharad Pawar gets Re. 1, kind of like a royalty!!

It is learnt that harsher pictorial warnings will be inserted on tobbacco products from December 1. But we fail to understand this delay. It is also learnt that some pictures are of healthy person. The pictures will also be rotated. Thus there will be a choice to insert a picture that is less dreadful.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Harsher-pictorial-warnings-on-tobacco-products-from-Dec-1/articleshow/8625455.cms

I also with all members that Tobacco should be banned. It is very dangerous for health.

The number of smokers has gone down considerably. Smoking in public places is banned. So, smokers are discouraged. But there are more Gutkha chewers. Gutkha causes mouth cancer and many cannot even open their mouth. Gutkha is priced at Rupees two or so. This has become very common. People are now conscious about danger of smoking but not about tobacco in other forms like Gutkha pouches.