According to the latest survey by Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2016, there has been a drop in tobacco consumption by 6 per cent in India. Over the last few years, the consumption percentage has dropped from 34.6 in 2010 to 28.6 per cent. The study was based on a compilation of various household surveys across 30 states and two union territories in India. The survey covered about 74,034 people above the age of 15 years. The study used global standards to keep an eye on tobacco use and track down the key control indicators.
Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, conducted the new reports in USA with technical assistance from World Health Organization and Centre for Disease Control and Prevention which was recently released by the Union Health Ministry of India. The study indicates that a significant reduction in the consumption of tobacco has been reported after the implementation of 85 per cent pictorial warning on all tobacco products and the ban on flavoured tobacco in several states.
The report also showed a sharp decline in tobacco consumption amongst the younger generation between the age of 15 to 24 years. The consumption percentage has dropped from 9.6 per cent in 2010 to 4.4 per cent in 2016 among teenagers whereas among the young adult the fall from 21.4 per cent in 2010 to 15.4 per cent in 2016 has been noticed.
Many people have expressed the desire to quit smoking cigarette and bidi.
A report says that about 10.4 crore people in India still consume khaini which is another way of consuming tobacco. Khaini is available at a very cheap price followed by bidi smokers which is around 6.7 crore people in the country. A target has been set by The National Health Policy 2017 for reducing the current tobacco usage in India by 15 percent by 2020.
