Historical
Despite its “Pan Indian” use, tobacco, originally cultivated by Native Americans, was brought to Europe in the 16th Century and, soon after, introduced to South Asia by European traders and colonisers.
The Portuguese, followed by the Dutch and the British, were instrumental in spreading tobacco use.
Tobacco quickly embedded itself into the cultural and social fabric of South Asian societies.
Yet, it is essential to remember that smoking was alien to Indian ethos and culture.
Despite the linguistic diversity in India, with as many as five linguistic families (thousands of languages), none of the Indian languages have a native or original word for “tobacco”.
The exception in Dravidian languages is due to the functionality — or description-related coinage — for “tobacco,” and there is no literary evidence about the use of tobacco before the European arrival
Economy
Tobacco, being a drought-tolerant, hardy crop, is economically significant to the underprivileged.
Today, tobacco accounts for 2% of India’s agri-exports and employs more than 45 million people.
The industry is a major source of revenue through taxation and exports exceeding ₹22000 crore.
However, this benefit comes at a tremendous human and financial cost.
The total economic cost of smoking in India, including health expenditure and productivity losses, amounts to ₹1.82 trillion annually.
Health
Tobacco use is responsible for over 1.2 million deaths in India each year, with smoking-related diseases accounting for the majority.
Tobacco is a significant contributor to the country’s cancer burden, with 27% of all cancers in India attributable to tobacco use
Tobacco has a pernicious effect on the human body, contributing to a range of health issues including various
cancers (lung, mouth, throat, oesophagus, pancreas, and bladder),
respiratory diseases (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, chronic bronchitis),
cardiovascular problems (heart disease, stroke, hypertension), and
other conditions such as diabetes, infertility, a weakened immune system, and complications in pregnancy.
Its consumption can lead to severe addiction due to the presence of nicotine, a highly addictive substance.
Social
The contemporary landscape of tobacco research in India is marked by a conflict of priorities between two premier institutions: the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
ICAR’s Central Tobacco Research Institute (CTRI) in Rajahmundry is at the forefront of this research
The organisation interest is to enhance tobacco productivity and commerce while ensuring the sustainability and quality of tobacco leaves and seeds.
This is in conflict with ICMR’s aspirations for a tobacco-free India, creating a significant policy and ethical dilemma.
Article 21 of the Indian Constitution guarantees the right to life and personal liberty, including the right to health, as an integral part of this fundamental right.
Furthermore, the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) under Articles 39(e), 39(f), 41, 42, and 47 mandate the state to work towards improving public health, ensuring social justice, and raising the standard of living.
These provisions compel the state to prioritise the health and well-being of its citizens over the economic benefits of tobacco farming.
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