Rayapati Sambasiva Rao, Parliamentarian, Telugu Desam: Tobacco ban will harm economy
Tobacco, as an agriculture crop, is grown in many parts of India. Different varieties are grown in different states, mainly in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and so on. Tobacco came to India in the Middle Ages from Europe. It is used in different forms in hookah, and as zarda and snuff, beedis, cigars and cigarettes. Virginia-cured tobacco is used in the manufacture of cigarette sticks all over the world. As such, it is the one of the main commercial crops of India.
One of the main constituents of tobacco is nicotine, besides other ingredients. Nicotine gives a feeling of well-being in the individual. Of course, it is also causes a habit-forming addiction like alcohol.
There are so many chemicals and addictives such as alcohol, bhang, ganja and so on. Those are being consumed by people all over the world. However, none of them are viewed with the same antagonism as tobacco is. All these addictives are used and consumed by members of society who are knowledgeable and affluent, which means they know what they are using and are consuming them for pleasure.
We know that excessive use of starch and sugar is also harmful. But we have learnt to limit their consumption.
Tobacco cultivation gives employment to lakhs of people in the rural areas and thereby boosts the country’s economy. The cultivation of tobacco requires a large number of people who are employed in various processes like curing, processing, packing, transportation and export of tobacco and its by-products. The export of tobacco and its by-products earns the country more than '10,000 crore in foreign exchange.
A blanket ban on tobacco will lead to financial distress in the economy of many states in India.
A gradual process of weaning away the population from the use of tobacco and finding alternate crops and alternate methods of livelihood for the people in the agricultural sector can be a solution to cut down the use and cultivation of tobacco. Regarding the health factors, the actual causes for any bad effect should be ascertained before taking any drastic step.
Forcible preventive action against tobacco is to lead to unrest and negative reaction towards the authorities. So gradual and persuasive action regarding the use of tobacco may give better results.
Dr P Vijay Anand Reddy Director, Apollo Cancer Hospital: Tobacco is known to cause cancer
It is unfortunate that some senior politicians are still raising doubts about the detrimental effects of tobacco. Whether it is out of ignorance, due to personal interests or due to influence from the tobacco industry, is anyone’s guess. The World Health Organisation had confirmed and termed tobacco a poison some 30 years back. It is the only product which damages the P53 gene which triggers cancer.
There is no doubt that tobacco is a proved carcinogen. Chewing tobacco or smoking it is harmful and causes cancer. Ninety per cent of the oral cancers in India are due to tobacco chewing, and only 10 per cent of oral cancers are due to other causes like sharp teeth, bad oral hygiene etc. Tobacco chewing also causes oropharyngeal and hypopharynx cancers. Heavy smokers have 80 per cent chance of getting lung cancer in their life time. Only 20 per cent of lung cancers are seen in non-smokers.
Why do all smokers not get cancer? It is like asking why all rash drivers do not have accidents? Very few smokers are lucky as they are genetically strong, but most of them succumb to the illness and have a very painful death. There are several Indian studies which have confirmed that chewing tobacco and smoking tobacco cause cancer.
Research by Dr P.C. Gupta, Dr C.S. Ray and de Byer J. titled Research on Tobacco in India including Betel Quid and Areca Nut —The discussion paper Economics of Tobacco Control Paper No. 9, 2003, is still available on the World Bank website. In 2004, a report on tobacco control in India, edited by Dr Reddy and Dr Gupta was published by the ministry of health and family welfare and also released by the health minister.
A review of Indian literature for association of smokeless tobacco with malignant and pre-malignant diseases of head and neck region has confirmed that there is significant association between smokeless tobacco use and cancer of the oral cavity.
Tobacco contains 4,000 toxic chemical substances of which 28 are confirmed carcinogens. Hence tobacco is scientifically termed as a carcinogen. The most potent carcinogens in tobacco are nitrosamines, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, ammonia, volatile phenols. Tobacco leaf contains nicotine. Nicotine is used in high doses as insecticide. About 60 mg of nicotine is enough to kill most people.
About 1.2 mg is inhaled when a cigarette is smoked. More than 8 to 9 lakh Indians die every year due to tobacco related diseases. Seventy per cent of people who die of tobacco use are between 30 to 69 years.
