Making J&K tobacco-free

Tobacco consumption in any form has been proven detrimental to health. But, most of the people don’t show any concern toward the advice and recommendations by the medicos from time to time, leading to the rise in the cancer cases in Jammu and Kashmir like other parts of the country. In this regard, creating awareness about its consequences and ramifications is the need of the hour. Every year on May 31, the world comes together to observe ‘No Tobacco Day’, a battle spearheaded by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to raise awareness about the devastating health and environmental impacts of tobacco use. However, the events and seminars being organized on the particular day won’t serve the cause until and unless the issues related to tobacco are resolved on a regular basis in every nook and corner. The day in Jammu and Kashmir has been celebrated while the data has placed the region among the top six states and union territories in India with the highest prevalence of tobacco use. This data indicates the proper implementation of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) of 2003. COTPA regulates the trade, commerce, production, supply and distribution of cigarettes and other tobacco products, as well as prohibits their advertisement. Implementing the Act in letter and spirit would have assisted Jammu and Kashmir in reducing the prevalence of tobacco use, which is presently common in the region. There is hardly any check on the smoking in the public places as the people are not following the Act, thus landing everyone on roads and streets in trouble. It is the time when the government needs to take necessary steps to put an end to the violations under COTPA Act so that the prevalence of tobacco is reduced to a large extent and help in making J&K tobacco-free.