Anti-tobacco campaign

Arunachal Pradesh has recently won accolades for being the best-performing state under the smaller category states of the country for its outstanding implementation of the tobacco-free youth campaign 2.0 organised by the central ministry of health and family welfare. As has been reported, the campaign, which was conducted during September-November last year, aimed at creating mass awareness among the youth of the state about the dangers of tobacco consumption, encouraging cessation of tobacco use and shielding them from the various manipulative strategies adopted by the notorious tobacco industry which is out to destroy the young generation of the country. But, while Arunachal Pradesh must be congratulated for getting this recognition at the national level, what is of grave concern is that tobacco consumption in the Northeastern region has been on the rise, thus continuing to remain a significant public health concern. According to official reports, the region has continued to exhibit higher rates of tobacco use in comparison to the national average, and this increasing tobacco use has been reported specifically among the young people. Specifically speaking, the Northeastern region shows a high prevalence of tobacco use, with some studies reporting rates as high as 44.71 per cent. Smokeless tobacco consumption, coming in the form of gutkha and camouflaged as various kinds of so-called paan masala, is also notably high in the region, with some states and districts showing it to be double the national average. Among the seven Northeastern states, the situation in Manipur and Assam is particularly bad. Studies have also highlighted differences in tobacco use between men and women, with some studies suggesting higher prevalence among men. While some people try to claim that smokeless tobacco, especially taken with tamul-paan or kwai, has been part of local cultural practice, the fact remains that tobacco in itself is a new commodity in the region. It is a matter of shame that if women’s organisations and NGOs have been successful in imposing prohibition on liquor sale and consumption in Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland, why cannot such bodies also launch a vigorous campaign against tobacco? In Assam, the powerful Xatra institutions and student bodies can play a major role in this aspect.