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| J&K again in news for wrong reasons! | | Tops passive smoking at 67 percent | |
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Feb 23:
Believe it or not! After being ranked as the second most corruption-ridden state in India in a survey conducted last year, Jammu Kashmir- the northern most part of the country- is in news again for bringing another dubious distinction to its kitty – this time topping the charts across nation for highest number of passive smokers.
According to fresh figures of those who fall in the category of passive smokers in the entire country, a massive 67 percent of the indirect inhalers of the ‘deadly’ cigarette smoke are from the state of Jammu Kashmir.
This high figure of passive smokers in the state is an alarming phenomenon despite of the fact that the government has already imposed a ban on smoking in public places and government offices.
As per the legal aspects of Tobacco Control Act-2003 particularly with reference to Section 4 which prohibits smoking in public places, Section 6 (a) refers to ban on sale of tobacco products to persons below 18 years of age and Section 6 (b) bans sale of tobacco products within 100 yards of any educational institutions.
However, a staggering figure of 67 percent of passive smokers in the state clearly reflects that the law enforcement agencies have failed to implement the rules properly on ground.
It is pertinent to mention here that while addressing a gathering in an awareness programme on enforcement of Tobacco Control Act-2003 at Srinagar on May 30 last year, the Minister for Consumer Affairs & Public Distribution (CAPD), Qamar Ali Akhoon had stressed upon the people to create an atmosphere in their areas for non-smoking so as to ensure Jammu and Kashmir, a smoke-free state.
But the attitude it seems is that Who Cares…? Even such appeals and laws to curb the menace of smoking have failed to generate a sense of responsibility among smokers, who are not only putting their lives at peril but also taking a heavy toll of the health of non-smokers by spreading the hazardous smoke in air.
The non-smokers’ only fault is that they keep company of smokers and in the process inhale the smoke emanating from the cigarettes of latter.
With a higher percentage of passive smokers believed to be in the state, the Voluntary Health Association of India- J&K Chapter (VHAI) has called for strict implementation of Tobacco and Tobacco Products Prevention Act to reduce incidence of diseases caused due to consumption of tobacco in different forms.
The members of VHAI even met a number of dignitaries yesterday including Speaker, J&K Legislative Assembly Mohammad Akbar Lone, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, BB Vyas, Commissioner/ Secretary Finance, Sudhanshu Pandey, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Dr Pawan Kotwal and several other senior bureaucrats to express their concern on the high percentage of passive smokers in the state.
They highlighted the need to enforce the law with full vigour in the state and called for imposition of higher taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products to discourage smoking in the state.
It is not only the responsibility of the organizations like VHAI to ring the alarm bells of the hazards of smoking, the concerned government agencies and citizens of the state must rise to the occasion and do their bits to restrict the smokers from at least avoid smoking in front of the non-smokers particularly when children and women are around.
Thousands of people die of cancer and related ailments annually caused due to smoking and passive smoking. To stop the high rate of deaths due to smoking, there is an urgent need of launching mass awareness through debates, seminars and symposia in every nook and corner of the state.
If the things are ignored further more then the day is not far off when the figures of passive smokers could swell more.
The need of the hour is to take necessary steps at the earliest and that too with honesty and firm resolve to minimize if not completely eradicating the menace of smoking.
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