Anti-tobacco Act — A farcical exercise

The Anti-tobacco Act is in vogue in Assam. Perhaps, this is the only Act prevalent which is violated by one and all with impunity taking advantage of the leniency of the law-enforcing authority. Even teenagers purchase tobacco products like Gotkha. The shop-keepers sell it despite a notice displayed in many shops not to sell tobacco products to minors. In our opinion, the Government should not enact a law that it cannot enforce. In fact, the enactment of Anti-tobacco Act is of immense importance keeping the health of those who are addicted to taking of tobacco-made items in any form in view. A report in the media suggests, the cases of oral cancer in the Northeast are the highest in India. The report further suggests that 48% people of Assam are addicted to tobacco. A shocking bit of news flashed in the electronic media is that 3,500 people die in India everyday due to tobacco-related-cancer. Needless to mention that all those deaths are because of are oral cancer. Our government turning a Nelson’s eye to this vital issue is simply pushing a good chunk of people of the new generation to the jaws of death. We sincerely believe, the government will not only take appropriate step to ban the sale of all tobacco products but it will also toughen the provisions of the Act.

Ashok Bordoloi,

Dibrugarh.