Sir,
The Government of Jammu & Kashmir has taken a decision under section 7 of the Cigarettes and other Tobacco products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and commerce, production, supply and Distribution) Act 2003 to impose complete ban on the sale of loose cigarettes, loose beedi(s) and loose tobacco in the state with immediate effect as per the notification issued by the Department of Health and Medical Education on 27th of May 2016.The main purpose of imposing ban is to discourage consumption of tobacco products especially among the youths. It is pertinent to mention here that as per the Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2010 cigarette consumers in our state are more than the national average. Centre and the state Government with the help of voluntary organizations have launched awareness campaign to educate the citizens about the ill effects of smoking and other tobacco products. Smoking and use of tobacco products orally is one of the reasons for spreading of diseases like cancer and other respiratory problems.
Govt of India has issued directions to print statutory warning “smoking is injurious to health” on every packet of cigarette. It has also been experienced while watching movies that whenever a scene of cigarette smoking appears on the screen above mentioned statutory warning is also shown for the information of the viewers to discourage cigarette smoking. Even smoking at public places has been banned but despite taking all these measures the number of smokers is increasing day by day.
No doubt it is a welcome move of the Government to impose ban on sale of loose cigarettes, beedies and tobacco in the state. If the Govt succeeds in implementing the ban completely then there is every possibility that the average of cigarette consumers in our state will come down than the national average.
If our popular Government is really worried about the health of the citizens then time has come to impose complete ban on sale of cigarettes, beedies and other tobacco products in the state without caring for the loss of revenue generated due to sale of the tobacco products.
Yours etc…..
S.S.Jamwal, SAO (Rtd)
New Plots, Jammu.
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