Cheap pleasure with high risks for beedi smokers

In the 2005 budget, the finance minister announced a special 10 percent cess on cigarettes and other tobacco products, including gutka, but beedis were exempted. Even the excise is lower for beedis: it is Rs 100-2,000 per 1,000 sticks of different grades of cigarettes, while it is less Rs 10 per 1,000 sticks of beedis.

‘‘The government is exempting beedis on the ground that the sector is mostly run by women and children, but what it is ignoring is the fact that non-cigarette sectors will contribute to the largest burden of death and disability related to tobacco consumption,’’ said Dr K Srinath Reddy, head of the department of cardiology at AIIMS, Delhi.

Experts say the sparing of beedis has more political than social reasons. Estimated to number 4.4 million, beedi workers form the third largest component of workforce after agricultural workers and textile workers. Various unions, most voluble being the left ones, are opposed to any tax increase fearing the beedi workers might lose their jobs. Even women’s groups like SEWA are opposed to the idea of increased taxation since the sector employs mostly women and children.

‘‘The health impact is almost the same as that of cigarettes. Since this form of smoking is much cheaper, the number of beedis smoked is always higher than cigarettes,’’ pointed out Dr Anoop Misra, professor of medicine at AIIMS.

According to experts, any increase in the price of beedis will affect consumption. ‘‘The richer smokers will buy cigarettes even if the price goes up, but the poor will be deterred if the price increase even nominally,’’ said Dr Reddy. The Health Ministry now seems to have awakened to the fact. A committee has been set up to examine the matter. ‘‘We are meeting experts and want to find a way out,’’ said Union Health Secretary P K Hota.

‘Smoking adversely associated with educational status’

• The national sample survey conducted in 1996 showed 37 per cent of people below poverty line use beedis.

• An analysis of the National Family Health Survery showed smoking is adversely associated with educational status.

• A study from Chennai showed 64 per cent adult men smoked. Out of these 58 per cent had just 6 years of schooling.

• Street Children in Mumbai have high rate of tobacco usage. 46 percent use gutka, 40 per cent smoke beedis and 14 percent raw tobacco.

• 70 to 80 per cent street children (10,000) in Bangalore were found to use tobacco.

• A recent report of UN’s ECOSOC says in developing countries 10 per cent of household expense goes to purchase tobacco products.