Despite a complete ban on the sale of Gutka, Chutki, Zarda and other similar tobacco products across the State, the practice still continues unabated in the city and in the outskirts due to laxity on part of the concerned law enforcing agencies.
The situation in the State remains alarming with most youth starting the use of tobacco even before attaining the age of 18. The situation is more startling among girls, as the average age of initiation of tobacco use in them is 14.9 years, while among boys it is 17 years.
It also sounds the alarm that 21.6 per cent males and 18.5 per cent females consume cigarettes, whereas 6.3 per cent male and 4 5 per cent female consume ‘Bidi’, while the rest consume other forms of tobacco.
Dr Anita Raina, a retired oncologist said, “The habit of smoking starts at teenage and teenagers smoke by looking at it as a sign of adult behaviour. They think smoking helps them cope with difficult times and do it on a regular basis in order to feel better and relieved from heavy emotions. Whereas in case of the labour class, children within the age group of 5 to 10 years indulge in such habits. They imitate their parents and due to lack of awareness no one is there to keep a check on them. Most cases of cancer are because of tobacco abuse. But the consumer does not realise it until it becomes an addiction and then it is difficult to quit.”
Pan Masala and Gutka may be off the shelves in shops, but the banned tobacco products continue to be sold illicitly to regular customers. A quick round of the city is just enough to conclude that none of the shopkeepers, whether small or big has stopped selling these products which are eating into all age groups, especially the youth. In fact, the shopkeepers after the ban have started earning more as these products are now being sold in black and at much higher rate than the printed one.
Suresh Sharma, a resident of Jewel Chowk said, “It is really sad that tobacco products are easily available in the market despite the ban. Moreover, children below the age of 14 years are habitual of chewing these products as these are easily available to them and no one is there to keep a check on this. At Jewel Chowk, which is said to be the centre of the city there are many shops that sell these products. I have seen many times these children consuming tobacco products. On an average they consume 5-8 Chutki packets in a single day and no one checks them. I believe it is lack of awareness as these people are mostly illiterate and also it is a setback for the concerned agencies who have failed to implement the law and make society tobacco free.”
The violation is rampant in the city with many of the tea stalls and Dhabas near educational institutions providing space for smoking and students in groups could be seen blowing the cigarettes.
“Outside most of the hospitals, educational institutions, at busy crossings like Jewel Chowk people can easily get tobacco products and open space to smoke. This place is hardly few meters away from GGM Science College and SPMR College of Commerce and here one will find that youngsters are indulging in smoking and no one is there to check this. For what purpose the ban has been imposed”, said Radhika Mahajan, a college student.
The need of the hour is to implement the ban completely and moreover, make people, especially the young generation aware about the harmful effects of these products.