I woke up in the morning to the front page news that Karnataka is going to "ban" sale of all forms of chewing tobacco.
Tamilnadu started today too. This decision is already in force in 20 states across India and 4 territories for more than a year or two. Karnataka is a laggard in terms of adopting it.
But, I hope it does and enforces it as soon as possible. It helps over a period of time.
The key deterrents for the government has been, 300cr annually that it gets taxing tobacco, and also the lobby that greases the right places.
The excuse of Araca nut agriculture and farmers should not be a big cry. I think simple beetle nut will continue to have its demand.
A few years ago, government banned (One a 2nd Oct - Gandhi Jayanti) smoking in public places, like railway stations, public buses, trains schools, offices etc.
Today, a couple of years down the line, it has a clear impact on the second hand smokers at least. Earlier walking out of the office, just out side main entrance there would always be a gang of smokers, and you have to inhale through to get out and in. Today those same smokers will have to walk a way outside the campus.
Trains and buses have been fairly clean in terms of smoking.
On this day, I had plans with one of the doctors who is treating me, to be at the camps organized to educate people on the impacts of tobacco organized through headandneck.org !
I wish I would have recovered completely to do that.. ! But yes, when I do, everyday I will be "education" for others who care
Tamilnadu started today too. This decision is already in force in 20 states across India and 4 territories for more than a year or two. Karnataka is a laggard in terms of adopting it.
But, I hope it does and enforces it as soon as possible. It helps over a period of time.
The key deterrents for the government has been, 300cr annually that it gets taxing tobacco, and also the lobby that greases the right places.
The excuse of Araca nut agriculture and farmers should not be a big cry. I think simple beetle nut will continue to have its demand.
A few years ago, government banned (One a 2nd Oct - Gandhi Jayanti) smoking in public places, like railway stations, public buses, trains schools, offices etc.
Today, a couple of years down the line, it has a clear impact on the second hand smokers at least. Earlier walking out of the office, just out side main entrance there would always be a gang of smokers, and you have to inhale through to get out and in. Today those same smokers will have to walk a way outside the campus.
Trains and buses have been fairly clean in terms of smoking.
On this day, I had plans with one of the doctors who is treating me, to be at the camps organized to educate people on the impacts of tobacco organized through headandneck.org !
I wish I would have recovered completely to do that.. ! But yes, when I do, everyday I will be "education" for others who care
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