This post excerpts what our national leaders have said on tobacco use in India.
Dr Manmohan Singh, Hon'ble Prime Minister of India said, "It is clear that we need to heighten our concern about tobacco usage being a leading cause of death and debilitating disease in our country. The increasing prevalence of tobacco consumption among high risk groups, including women and children, and the exposure to second hand smoke, either in homes or in public places, is a matter of serious concern."
Smt Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson, United Progressive Alliance (UPA) notes, "The consumption of tobacco in various forms is a threat to public health. There is strong evidence to link tobacco use with the incidence of cancer. A massive public awareness campaign has to be sustained at various levels to deal with this malaise."
Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, Hon'ble Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare states, "As one of the lagest consumers of tobacco in the world, India is faced by human costs, including cancers, cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases, which require the urgent attention and intervention of the Government on both regional and state levels."
"We must also consider the economic burdens that the usage of tobacco imposes on our country's health care systems. As may as one million deaths annually can be attributed to tobacco consumption forcing health facilities to spend an even greater share of their precious resources on treating largely preventable diseases."
According to Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) India 2009-10 Report, India has nearly 274.9 million tobacco users, age 15 and above, making the country the second largest consumer of tobacco products in the world.
Among them, 197.0 million are males and 77.9 million are females; and 216.0 million tobacco users from rural areas and 58.8 million from urban areas.
Compiled from Messages in from GATS India Report 2009-10, available here
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