Tobacco Use Among Women Drops from 20.3% to 14.2%, Says Government

The use of tobacco among women and teenagers in India has reduced, according to Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav. He shared this update in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.

Citing data from global surveys, Jadhav said there has been a clear decline in tobacco use over the years:

• According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS):
  • In 2009–10 (GATS-1), 20.3% of women aged 15 and above used tobacco.
  • By 2016–17 (GATS-2), this number had dropped to 14.2%.
• Among teenagers, the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) showed:
  • In 2009 (GYTS-3), 14.6% of children aged 13–15 used tobacco.
  • In 2019 (GYTS-4), that dropped to 8.5%.

Government Measures to Curb Tobacco Use

To fight the use of tobacco in India, especially among women and children, the government has taken several steps:

1. COTPA 2003 Law:
   The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003 bans:
   • Smoking in public places
   • Sale of tobacco to or by minors
   • Sale of tobacco within 100 yards of schools and colleges
   • All forms of direct and indirect advertising of tobacco
   • Requires health warnings on tobacco product packaging

1. National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP):
   Launched in 2007, this programme:
   • Aims to spread awareness about tobacco’s harmful effects
   • Promotes quitting tobacco through public campaigns
   • Supports enforcement of the COTPA 2003 law

1. Tobacco-Free Youth Campaign:
   An annual 60-day campaign run by the ministry to:
   • Educate young people on the risks of tobacco
   • Encourage them to avoid or quit tobacco use

1. Ban on E-Cigarettes:
   In 2019, the government banned e-cigarettes and similar products through the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, which includes:
   • A complete ban on production, sale, import, export, storage, and advertisement of e-cigarettes.

The government says these steps are aimed at creating a healthier future for the youth and reducing overall tobacco-related harm in the country.