70% Cigarette products in Karnataka comply with new pictorial rule: IPH Study

BENGALURU: 70% of cigarette products, 55% of smokeless tobacco products (chewing tobacco) and 12% of bidi products in Karnataka have complied with the new rule mandating 85% pictorial warning on tobacco packs, revealed a recent survey conducted by Institute of Public Health (IPH), Bangalore. Introduced by Government of India, the new rule came into force from April 1, 2016.
The survey was conducted on June 24 –June 25 by collecting a convenience sample of pre-selected cigarette, smokeless tobacco and bidi brands.A total of 90 cigarette packs from nine brands and three tobacco companies, 100 chewing tobacco packs of 10 brands from pre-identified street tobacco vendors and 50 bidi packs from 13 brands were observed under the survey.
While 50% of these samples were picked up from high socio-economic status (SES) areas like Indiranagar, Koramangala, Electronic City and Silk Board, the remaining 50% were collected from low SES areas like Summanahalli, Kottigepalya, Sunkadakatte, HR Palya and KR Market.
Dr US Vishal Rao, senior oncologist at HCG Cancer Hospital, member of Karnataka Government’s High Power Committee on Tobacco Control, said: “We are glad that 70% of the cigarette products and 55% of chewing tobacco products have complied with the new rule for the sake of public health utility. However, majority of the bidi industry had opposed the new rule saying it can’t be printed on bidi packs as the shape of these packs are complicated to comply with the rule. However, 12% of compliance has proved that 85% pictorial warning can be printed on bidi packets as well and other bidi companies cannot give excuses on the same.”
“Data collected from this study demonstrates that contrary to the claim of major tobacco companies, printing 85% of pictorial warning on the packs is practically feasible on all tobacco products. The evidence is indisputable and shows that tobacco manufacturers are capable of complying with all the provisions of the government mandate,” added Dr Pragati Hebbar from IPH.
UT Khader, minister of state food and civil supplies and consumer affairs department, said: “Tobacco is the only consumer product that has no good use except for causing diseases, disability and deaths. Large pictorial warning is a good measure to help consumers make an informed choice. We must work towards creating a Swasthya Bharat for our future generations.”
Nation’s growers and workforce contribute to more than 10 lakh deaths in the country
Puttaswamy Gowda from Bharatiya Kisan Sangha said: “Farmers are our anna datas and labourers are the work force of India and we by all means would always stand for them. However, sadly, they are indirectly contributing to over 10 lakh deaths every year in India by growing and processing tobacco. It would be unjustifiable to ignore lakhs of patients and their families who have already suffered from heart attacks, lung problems like tuberculosis and cancer through tobacco consumption.”
“Our farmer brothers and sisters should never fall prey to false arguments made by tobacco industry. International and national studies have shown that even with the best tobacco control measures, the reduction in profit is very gradual and will not affect our livelihood immediately. In the long run tobacco farmers can shift to alternative crops or alternative usage of tobacco,” said Mallikarjun Jakati, a farmer and member of Karnataka Krishika Sangha.