Considering raising the tobacco purchase age to 21 years

10 Nov 2021 Considering raising the tobacco purchase age to 21 years

Posted at 13:11h in Daily current-affairs by khyati khare 0 Comments

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The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has asked the youth to ban selling tobacco.

India is the second largest producer and consumer of tobacco, tobacco in the country is consumed in the form of cigarettes, bidis and cigars and mostly smokeless.
Tobacco use increases the risk of lung disease and cancer, as well as increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases and other non-communicable diseases.
In India, more than 13 lakh people die every year due to tobacco consumption, that is, 3500 deaths occur every day.

World Health Organization observes 31st May every year as ‘World No Tobacco Day’ with the aim of promoting awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco use such as cancer and other non-communicable diseases.
Although there has been a significant decline in tobacco use between 2000 and 2016, this reduction is insufficient to meet the goal of preventing deaths from cardiovascular and other non-communicable diseases globally.

Under the Directive Principles of State Policy in Part IV of the Constitution of India, Article 47, the State shall take steps to improve public health and prohibit the consumption of intoxicating drinks and intoxicating substances injurious to health.
Therefore, India has taken the following steps in the direction of controlling the use of tobacco –

Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA-2003)

This law replaced the Cigarettes Act of 1975 as it did not include non-cigarette products, broadening the 2003 Act to include cigars, bidis, churouts, pipe tobacco, hookah, chewing tobacco, pan masala Andgutkha was also included.
Under this law, smoking in a public place, advertising, promoting tobacco products, selling tobacco products to children below the age of 18 years, sale of tobacco products within a radius of 100 yards around educational institutions was banned.
Draft is being prepared by the government in which tobacco is being considered to increase the age limit of 18 years to 21 years.
India has adopted tobacco control provisions under the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).

Every year about 6 million people in the world become victims of premature death due to tobacco use.
Globally, 67 lakh tonnes of tobacco is produced annually. In tobacco production, China ranks first with 32 lakh tonnes of tobacco production (39.6% of global tobacco) and India is second with 8.75 lakh tonnes (9% of global production).
Tobacco products in India provide employment to 36,865 registered farmers, 44 lakh people in beedi factories, 22 lakh tendu leaves collectibles.

NCPCR is a statutory body constituted by the ‘Commission for Protection of Child Rights’ Act 2005, which is working under the administrative control of the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
The Commission ensures that all laws, policies, programs and administrative machinery are in conformity with the provisions of the Rights of the Child enshrined in the Constitution of India as well as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child to ensure that a child is protected under the Right to Education Act, 2009. Investigates complaints regarding the right to free and compulsory education.
It oversees the implementation of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act, 2012 (PACSO Act).