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Clearing the air

The ban on smoking in designated public places, which took effect on Gandhi Jayanti, deserves to be hailed as an enlightened public health initiative. It can save a large number of people from the well-known effects of environmental tobacco smoke. Although the medical community has been demanding legislative curbs on tobacco use for many years now, the notification of the Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places Rules, 2008, by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is primarily the outcome of the aggressive campaign waged by Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss. The new rules provide the much-needed teeth to the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003. They define public places to include hotels, restaurants, pubs, bars, refreshment rooms, coffee houses, and other places used by the general public; designate the officers empowered to enforce them; and provide for penalties. The clarity that the rules bring to tobacco control efforts should encourage the State governments to enforce them sincerely and transparently, after giving them wide publicity. Elimination of the haze of tobacco smoke from public places and work spots has produced remarkable results in many countries, and there is little doubt that the people of India will similarly benefit.

Passive smoking seriously impairs respiratory health and the rules rightly seek to protect non-smokers. The ban also strikes a blow for the rights of workers who have to function in smoke-filled environments such as pubs, bars, and restaurants. Although there is wide agreement on the health-eroding effects of tobacco, there is some scepticism about the efficacy of a ban. The example of poor enforcement of road traffic rules is cited by those who argue that prohibition of smoking will be even less enforceable. Such a perception underscores the need to raise the credibility of the system. The World Health Organisation estimates that out of the global total of about 800 million tobacco-users, nearly a third are in India. Every effort must therefore be made to stop more people from getting addicted and to wean smokers away. It would be legitimate to expect that the Health Ministry provide every kind of support to those who want to give up the habit. This is a medical function and could be performed by the network of hospitals, by health centres and even general practitioners. Awareness campaigns on smoking can also be scaled up in parallel with enforcement. The ban is undoubtedly a bold measure, because it has been introduced despite the potential loss of tax revenues. But for it to succeed, the States will have to show a lot of resolve.

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