The battle against tobacco has been raging for quite some time now, and the most recognised ‘weapons’ in this battle are of course ‘no smoking’ signs that could be seen in many places. Taking this signage war ahead, the government has now decided to introduce ‘Tobacco Free Zone’ signs in public places across the state, with an intention to address not just smoking but chewing of tobacco as well.
There has been a tremendous drop in Goa over the years in tobacco consumption. A 1980s study had observed that tobacco consumption in Goa stood around 35 percent, but today it is around 9 percent. True, there has been an increase from 8 to 9 percent in recent years, but it is mostly in the rural areas, and it is in smokeless tobacco consumption. The new measures combined with awareness drives should help tackle the issue.
” Dr Shekhar Salkar,
National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication
The use and extent of tobacco
n Attempts have been made by the civil society since a long time to end tobacco addition, while the government on its part has also sought to discourage smoking as well as other ways of consuming tobacco. However, the issue still remains a major challenge as the tobacco industry is a major player in the Indian economy, bringing considerable revenue to the government and employment across agricultural and industrial sectors in India.
n At national level, the tobacco sector contributes a value of Rs 11 crore to the Indian economy, and employs around 8 crore people.
n India is a major exporter of tobacco, with a 5 percent market share of $12 billiob tobacco leaf export trade, and Indian tobacco is exported to over 100 countries
Tobacco menace in Goa
n A 2018 report based on Global Adult Tobacco Survey suggested that tobacco use in Goa had actually increased from 8.8 percent to 9.7 percent. Even as smoking declined, consumption of smokeless increased from 4.6 percent to 6.5 percent.
n Around 17 percent of all adults who worked indoors were exposed to passive smoking at workplace while around 13 percent of people were exposed to secondhand smoke in public places according to the GAT survey.
Putting up signage for preventing tobacco use is important because it gives the authorities a ground to take action if individuals are found using tobacco despite the sign. Secondly, putting up a sign also brings pressure on the person engaging in the act. TIll today, the focus of signs was only on smoking, but now declaring a place as ‘no tobacco zone’ will also cover the chewing of tobacco.
” Dr Roland Martins, GOACAN
