Lok Sabha Question No. 4537 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-20
Subject: Death due to Consumption of Tobacco
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Hemant Patil, Unmesh Bhaiyyasaheb Patil, Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Sujay Radhakrishna Vikhepatil, Sambhajirao Mane Dhairyasheel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4537 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20 TH MARCH, 2020

## DEATH DUE TO CONSUMP TION OF TOBACCO

## 4537. SHRI HEMANT SRIRAM PATIL:

SHRI UNMESH BHAIYYASAHEB PATIL:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

DR. SUJAY RADHAKRISHNA VIKHE PATIL:

SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  any  mechanism  or  tool  has  been developed  to  record  deaths  caused  due  to  bidi, cigarettes, e- cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the number of deaths caused due to use of tobacc  during the last three years, State/UT -wise;
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to reduce deaths related to tobacco use and safeguard the health and rights of bidi rollers from unorganized sector; and
- (d)  the  details  of  the  total  amount  spent  by  the Government  to  treat  diseases  attributable  to tobacco use during the last t hree years?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) & (b): As  per  the  estimates  given  in  the  2 nd round  of  Global  Adult  Tobacco  Survey (GATS - 2)  report  (2016 -17),  mortality  due  to  tobacco  in  India  is  estimated  at  upwards  of million, which is based on several studies. This estimate does not include the deaths ca to e - cigarettes, as e - cigaret tes are a distinct product class and are not tobacco products.
- (c): Several steps have been taken by the Government to reduce the prevalence of tobacco including that of bidi rollers from unorganized sector in order to reduce deaths related to tobacco use.Some of the major steps are as under;
- The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has enacted a comprehensive legislation, name the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation Trade  and  Commerce,  Production,  S upply  and  Distribution)  Act,  2003  (COTPA  2003)  to discourage the consumption of tobacco products in order to protect the masses from the hazards attributable to tobacco use.
- The National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) was launched by this Ministry in 2007 -08 with the aim to (i) create awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco consumptio reduce the production and supply of tobacco products, (iii) ensure effective implementa the  provisions  unde r  COTPA,  2003  (iv)  help  people  quit  tobacco  use,  and  (v)  facilita implementation  of  strategies  for  prevention  and  control  of  tobacco  advocated  by  W Framework Convention of Tobacco Control.
- The stakeholders are being made aware on a regular basis about the adverse effects of tobacco usage on health through various anti - tobacco campaigns vide different mode of communication.
- The Government of India has notified rules to regulate films and TV programmes depict scenes of tobacco usage to spread awareness . Such films and TV programmes are statutorily required to run anti - tobacco health spots, disclaimers and static health warnings.
- Size of specified health warnings on tobacco products is enhanced w.e.f. 1st April, 85%  of  the  principal  display  area of  tobacco  product  packs.  Quitline  number  has  been included in new specified health warnings with Quitline number which came into effect o st September, 2018. The MoHFW has also started National Tobacco Quitline to provide tobacc cessation services to t he community and has launched a pan -India 'mCessation' initiative to reach out to tobacco users who are willing to quit tobacco use and to support them t successful quitting through text - messaging via mobile phones.
- In order to encourage tobacco work ers to shift to alternative vocations, the Ministry of Lab & Employment, Government of India in collaboration with the Ministry of Skill Developme & Entrepreneurship, Government of India has initiated 'Skill Development' programme for bidi rollers to facilitate them to shift to alternative vocations.
- Department of Agriculture and Cooperation & Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture a Farmers  Welfare  has  extended  Crop  Diversification  Programme  (CDP),  an  on -going  sub -scheme of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna (RKVY) to 10 tobacco growing States w.e.f 2015 - 16 to encourage tobacco growing farmers to shift alternate crops/cropping systems.
- There has been 6% absolute reduction in prevalence of tobacco use from 34.6% to 28.6% fr 2009- 10 to 2016 - 17 (Global A dult Tobacco Survey -2).

As  per  the  inputs  received  from  Ministry  of  Labour  &  Employment,  Government  of India, Health care facilities are being provided to Beedi, Cine and Non Coal Mine workers a their  families  through  10  Hospitals  and  286  Dispensarie s  located  across  the  country. Reimbursement  of  expenditure  for  specialized  treatment  taken  under  Government  recogniz Hospitals in case of critical disease;

| Cancer                                                                     | Reimbursement of actual expenses on treatment, medicines and incurred by worke rs, or their dependents.                                                                    |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Tuberculosis                                                               | Reservation of beds in T.B. Hospitals and domiciliary treatment Subsistence allowance of Rs. 750/ - to Rs. 1000/ - p.m is granted as per advice of the treating physician. |
| Heart Diseases                                                             | Reimbursement of expenditure up to Rs. 1,30,000/ -to workers.                                                                                                              |
| Kidney Transplantation                                                     | Reimbursement of expenditure up to Rs. 2,00,000/ -to workers.                                                                                                              |
| Hernia, Appendectomy, Ulcer Gynaecological diseases and Prostrate diseases | Reimbursement of expenditure up to Rs. 30,000/ - to workers and dependents.                                                                                                |

(d): No such specific data is maintained centrally.