By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Guwahati: In a major development which is bound to help check tobacco abuse — an indisputable and perturbing public health hazard, a large number of MLAs cutting across party lines have pledged to make their respective constituencies tobacco free and save the children of Assam from the menace of tobacco.
Signing a pledge to this end, the MLAs as the people’s representatives and responsible citizens of the state have promised to: Make all educational Institutions Tobacco free; Total prohibition on selling of tobacco products with 100 yards of the educational Institutions, and Prevent buying or selling of tobacco products by anyone below the age of 18.
According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) carried out in 2010, in Assam, prevalence of tobacco users is 39.3 per cent as compared to national prevalence of 34.6 per cent, whereas 52.6 per cent of male and 25.3 per cent female are found to use tobacco in some form or the other.
It would also be pertinent to mention that according to the provisions of the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, it is mandatory for all educational institutions to put up signage mentioning clearly that selling of any tobacco products within 100 yards of institution is strictly prohibited.
COTPA also forbids buying or selling of tobacco products by any individual below the age of 18. The Voluntary Health Association of Assam (VHAA), a premier non-profit organization involved in the field of public and rural health, in association with Voice of Tobacco Victims (VOTV) carried out this drive to make aware the politicians on the hazardous impact of tobacco abuse and also seek their support towards making a tobacco free state.
Renowned oncologist and Director of the Dr. B. Barooah Cancer Institute Dr. A.C.Kataki, who is also a patron of the VOTV observed, “Smoking and chewing tobacco is the single most important risk factor for cancer. 55-60% of all cancers in male and 25-30% in female are tobacco related cancer in this part of this country. Tobacco is also responsible for cardiovascular disease, stroke, chronic respiratory disease, peripheral vascular disease and has adverse effects on pregnancy and child birth.”
Hailing this move, Executive Secretary of the VHAA, Ms. Ruchira Neog observed that without the support and help from the political fraternity, the drive to make Assam tobacco free, cannot be achieved. She also called upon the policy makers to take a firm stand in this regard to ensure a safe, healthy and tobacco free future for children.
The Legislators on their part thanked VHAA for its sincere efforts in making a tobacco free society and promised all help in this regard.
Amongst the signatories are Pranab Kumar Gogoi, Speaker of Assam Legislative Assembly and MLA from Sivasagar, Nilamani Sen Deka, Parliamentary Affairs Minister and MLA from Dharmapur, Chandan Brahma, Transport Minister and MLA from Sidli, Prashanta Phukan, Dibrugarh MLA, Keshav Mahanta, Koliabor MLA, Pramila Rani Brahma, MLA-Kokrajhar East, Hafiz Bashir Ahmed, MLA-Bilasipara West, Abdur Rahman Ajmal, MLA- South Salmara, besides others.