Expensive cigarettes equals more revenue and less health risks

Announcing an increase of excise duty on cigarettes, Finance Minister
Shri P Chidambaram during his Budget speech on Thursday said, “What does a Finance Minister turn to when he requires resources? The answer is cigarettes.”

The FM could well have rephrased his comment to what should government do to force people to quit smoking? The answer is, impose higher tax on cigarettes.

Rajasthan has shown the way. Consumption of cigarettes, bidis and zarda (chewing tobacco) has declined drastically in the state since the last three years after the state government increased tax rate on tobacco products from 20 per cent to 50 per cent.

While in terms of value, cigarette sale was Rs 413.55 crore in 2010-11, it came down to Rs 349.67 crore in the following year while in the first six months of current financial year the total sale of cigarettes was just Rs 160.28 crore.

Similarly, bidi industry registered a decline in sale by more than 50% in last two years from Rs 73.45 crore to Rs 25.10 crore and chewing tobacco sale dropped from Rs 31.54 crore to Rs 14.56 crore.

Buoyed by this trend the state government is contemplating a 50 per cent hike in the tax rate on tobacco products in the upcoming Budget. The state government while presenting a paper on strategy to reduce tobacco consumption in the National Consultation on Economics of Tobacco in December last year proposed to increase tax rate on tobacco products from existing 50 per cent to 75 per cent in line with WHO norms.

Experts say that raising taxes on cigarettes and bidis would have twin impact on health and revenue. Dr Virender Singh, Medical Superintendent of SMS Hospital said, “Cost escalation in tobacco products would not only reduce their consumption but also increase revenue for the government.” If the trend continues actual health benefits would be witnessed in a decade, he added.

As per WHO, in developing countries every 10% increase in price of tobacco will result in 8% reduction in tobacco use or consumption.

A recent study titled ‘Economics of Tobacco and Tobacco Taxation in India’ also highlights the crucial role that the government can play in reducing tobacco-related deaths by raising taxes on tobacco products.

Quoting a study by John’s Hopkins University (USA), Dharamveer Katawa, secretary Indian Asthma Care Society said, “The state government saved four lakh young lives when it raised tax rate on tobacco products from 20 per cent to 40 per cent.” At the same time, the state government’s earnings from tax on tobacco products have increased almost three folds. From Rs 288.16 crore in 2009-10, it went up to Rs 627.82 crore in the last financial year.

Courtesy: Daily Bhaskar

Read more ...

Tobacco Control Sensitisation for Education Officials

A Shajahan

Tobacco Free Kerala organised a tobacco control sensitisation programme for education officials of Kerala at Al-Saj Convention Centre, Kazhoottam, Trivandrum on February 7, 2013.

The sensitization programme was done during a capacity-building exercise for Education Department Officials conducted by the National University of Educational Planning and Administration. 

In his opening remarks, Director of Public Instruction Shri A Shajahan said that the State Government gives great thrust to the tobacco free campaign. The objective of the Government is to create tobacco free.

Dr AS Pradeep Kumar, Addl. Director of Health Services, Government of Kerala gave a detailed presentation on COTPA Act, 2003 and its implementation in schools. He dealt at length about Sec 4 and Sec 6 (b) and the statutory boards to be insalled in schools as mandated under the law. 

Dr Paul Sebastian

Dr Paul Sebastian, Director RCC and Vice Chairman, TFK talked about the health hazards caused by the use of tobacco products. He used images of patients affected with cancers of oral cavity to drive home the harmful impacts of tobacco use. 

Dr Sebastian also showed videos of two tobacco victims – one an elderly man and another a young man – both of whom had lost out on precious productive years and had to face the trauma of cancers.

Irinjalakuda DEO Shri CC Jacob described the efforts taken to make Irinijalakuda educational district tobacco free. He pointed out that this was possible due to collective efforts by all including school administrations, police, parents and public.

Read more ...

TFK observes World Cancer Day

Tobacco Free Kerala, a coalition led by Regional Cancer Centre, joined hands with Swasthi Charitable Foundation to to initiate a state-wide school based cancer awareness programme on World Cancer Day. 

His Excellency Governor of Mizoram Shri Vakkom B Purushothaman inaugurated the programme held at St Mary's Higher Secondary School - the school with the highest student strength in Kerala with nearly 9,000 boys and girls in its rolls. 

Shri Purushothaman said that fear is a major cause of death due to cancer. “When my mother was 80 years, she underwent an operation for breast cancer. On the advice of her doctor, we did not tell our mother about her condition though she was on medications. She lived without any complications for three years. A chance remark made by a relative about her disease however took here through a phase of fear, and she passed away within two months of that knowledge,” he recounted.

Organising Secretary, Santhigiri Ashram Swami Gururetnam Jnana Thapaswi who presided over the function said that similar cancer awareness programmes would be conducted in educational institutions across Kerala. 

Director of Public Instruction Shri A Shajahan exhorted students to keep away from tobacco products as they are proven to be a major cancer-causing factor. “Smoking and tobacco chewing might seem heroic to students, but they result in endless misery. Around 45 per cent of cancers are attributed to tobacco use.”

Shri Shajahan also told students about the efforts taken by the Government and his department for tobacco control efforts. Committees have been formed at the state, district and school level for implementing the Government’s intent of strict monitoring of tobacco use among students. “The Committees at the school level, which also has representation from the police and PTA has been authorised to ensure that no tobacco products are sold around schools,” he added. 

Shri Palode Ravi MLA; Shri Pirappancode Murali Ex MLA; Principal Secretary IT Shri PH Kurien; well-known novelist Dr George Onakoor; noted film actor Shri Jagadish, playback singer Shri G Venugopal and a host of other dignitaries were present. Shri Jagadish and Shri Venugopal enthralled the school children with their lilting melodies. 

Prof. & Head, Community Oncology Dr Remani Wesley; Addl Prof., Surgical Oncology, RCC Dr Paul Augustin and Asst Prof., Community Oncology Dr R Jayakrishnan collectively answered student queries on cancer.

General Secretary of Swasthi Charitable Foundation Shri Aby George delivered the welcome address and Principal of St.Mary’s School Rev. Dr. Varkey Attuparuthu proposed thanks.

Read more ...