Survey finds signs of indifference to tobacco warning

The Public Health Foundation of India conducted the survey under STEPS (Strengthening of Tobacco-control Efforts through innovative Partnerships and Strategies),a three-year project in partnership with the two state governments and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. It covered 208 schools in Andhra Pradesh,108 in Gujarat and 60 schools in each state. The two states are among the country’s leading tobacco producers,says Dr Monika Arora of PHFI.

In Andhra Pradesh,where the survey covered East Godavari,Karimnagar,Kurnool,Prakasham,Mahbubnagar and Vishakhapatnam,98 per cent of the schools did not have a display board while the other two per cent had the warning only partially written. In Gujarat’s Anand,Kheda,Rajkot,Banaskantha,Tapi and Surat districts,none of the surveyed schools displayed the warning.

Of kiosk owners,81 per cent in Andhra Pradesh knew that they should not sell tobacco to a minor but 90 per cent in Gujarat did not know that they cannot sell within 100 yards of a school. Almost all of Gujarat’s respondents (98 per cent) said they had never faced resistance for selling within this radius.

It was after the survey findings that the state administrations issued orders on effective implementation of these provisions of the Act.

Tobacco kills nearly 6 million people each year,over a million of them in India. By 2030,8 million people will have died of tobacco-related causes,80 per cent of them in low- and middle-income countries.

India is the second largest consumer of tobacco in the world. Nearly 274.9 million adults in India use tobacco in some form or the other. Over half of all adults (52 per cent) are exposed to second-hand smoke at home. Nearly 15 per cent of the youth currently use tobacco products in some form.

TO BE ANNOUNCED

Schools: “Sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products in an area within a radius of 100 yards from the educational institution is strictly prohibited,and that the offence is punishable with a fine which may extend to Rs.200”.

2% schools in AP,none in Gujarat had this sign

Kiosks: “Sale of tobacco products to a person under the age of 18 years is a punishable offence”.

No kiosk in AP or Gujarat had this sign; survey covered 208 & 108 respectively