Governor of Assam today expressed concern over the rise in sedentary life of the people of the state that has shown a rising trend in smoking and drinking.
As per the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) report, tobacco consumption has increased from 39.3% in 2010 to 48.2% in 2017 in the state at a time when the national figures have gone down from 34.6%, to 28.6% in 2017. In 2006-07, Government of Assam has earned revenue of 178 crore from alcohol sales, which has increased to 900 crore in 2016-17.
In terms of Alcohol consumption, Assam has recorded 4th highest position in alcohol consumption and among women in the country as revealed by a World Health Organization (WHO) report.
“I assure that I will interact with the stake holders for proper implementation of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003 and put on more efforts in making educational institute free from tobacco products,” Governor Jagdish Mukhi said.
The issue was raised by a group of tobacco control activists lead by Amal Chandra Kataki, Director of Dr.B Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI) who gave a presentation before the Governor at the Raj Bhawan here today urging him to intensify tobacco control initiative in the State.
It may be mentioned that Assam, along with all other Northeast States except Sikkim have a high prevalence of tobacco consumption. Tobacco related cancers (TRC) in the Northeastern states are highest in the country, as per the National Cancer Registry Programme of the Indian Council of Medical Research. In Assam, TRC constitutes 46- 52% in men and 20-25% in women.
As per the report of Public Health Foundation of India, the Government of Assam in 2011 spent 157.8 crore for the treatment of tobacco related diseases out of its total health budget 542 crore for that year. In Assam, about 3.2 lakh packets of cigarette and 6.5 lakh sachets of Gutkha are sold daily. The Global School Personnel Survey (GSPS) states that, 34.2% of children in the North East states consume tobacco as against 13% in the South Indian States.
