The Bill, by leave, was withdrawn. According to the Delhi Medical Association findings tobacco will emerge as a major killer by 2020. It is estimated that nearly 3.5 million people annually die in the world from smoking related diseases. Over 10 lakh people annually, die on account of smoking in India. The victims include those non-smokers who often remain in the company of smokers.
Tobacco contains harmful substances such as nicotine, carbon monoxide and tar.
On inhalation, these substances enter the bloodstream affecting the brain and causing heart and other ailments. Tobacco intake is a major contributing factor for causing cancer also. 20 to 25 per cent of coronary heart diseases and stroke are attributed to smoking. Similarly, there is proved co-relation between smoking and infertility. Children are the main prey to tobacco smoking.