Tobacco Ban in Jharkhand | 03 Dec 2020

Why in News

The Jharkhand Government, in a recent order, has banned consumption of any form of tobacco products for all State Government employees.

Key Points

  • The State Government has made it mandatory for all state government employees to submit an affidavit stating that they will abstain from consuming any form of tobacco.
  • Tobacco products include any cigarettes, bidi, khaini, gutkha, pan masala, zarda or supari as well as hukka, e-hookah, e-cigarettes and tobacco products being used by any name - smoking and smokeless.
  • The decision was taken at a meeting of the National Tobacco Control Programme's state chapter, with an aim to implement the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 (COTPA).
  • The decision will be implemented from 1st April, 2021.
  • There has been no clarity over penal provision in case of violation of the order.
  • The government is also taking measures for bringing behavioural change by using panchayat level institutions.
    • Zila Parishads, Panchayat Samitis and Gram Panchayats are asked to organise tobacco control discussions in every gram sabha meeting.
  • The Police have been ordered to increase vigil at checkposts to stop entry of banned tobacco products.
  • Previously in April 2020, Jharkhand had banned sale and consumption of tobacco products in public places, including online sales, in view of an increase in chances of Covid-19 infection.

Tobacco Control in India

  • International Convention:
    • India ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) in 2004.
  • Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003:
    • Replaced the Cigarettes Act of 1975 (largely limited to statutory warnings- ‘Cigarette Smoking is Injurious to Health’ to be displayed on cigarette packs and advertisements. It did not include non-cigarettes).
    • The 2003 Act also included cigars, bidis, cheroots, pipe tobacco, hookah, chewing tobacco, pan masala, and gutka.
  • National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), 2008:
    • Objective: To control tobacco consumption and minimize tobacco consumption related deaths.
    • Implementation: NTCP is implemented through a three-tier structure, i.e. (i) National Tobacco Control Cell (NTCC) at Central level (ii) State Tobacco Control Cell (STCC) at State level & (iii) District Tobacco Control Cell (DTCC) at District level.
  • Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Amendment Rules, 2020:
    • These provide for new sets of specified health warnings with enhanced pictorial images to be printed on all tobacco products.
  • mCessation Programme:
    • It is an initiative using mobile technology for tobacco cessation.
    • India launched mCessation using text messages in 2016 as part of the government’s Digital India initiative.
  • Prevention and Control of Pollution Act of 1981:
    • Recognized smoking as an air pollutant.
  • Cable Television Networks Amendment Act of 2000:
    • Prohibited the transmission of advertisements on tobacco and liquor in India.
  • The Government of India has issued regulations under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 which lay down that tobacco or nicotine cannot be used as ingredients in food products.

Source:IE