A lesson to learn.....

We are all aware of Mr. Ambumani Ramadoss's fixation with tobacco control. The health minister has tried many a trick from his cache to control smoking but most of it has gone up in smoke. The latest addition to these efforts has been the law that bans smoking in public places. Needless to say that even this law has had minimal impact in stemming the rot that tobacco has brought upon us. However, here is a story which can help us fight the problem and walk out of this predicament. New York governor Mr. David Paterson has recently announced a hike in the taxes levied on cola and other fizzy drinks. The objective is to help the New Yorkers slim down. The new taxes will increase the prices of these drinks by a whooping 20 to 25%. Mr. Paterson plans to levy such taxes on other junk food items as well. This decision has not gone too well with many sections of the society but can have a decisive impact on the society in the long run. 

 

           In India the amount of money spent on the treatment of people suffering from tobacco related diseases is much more than the revenue earned on these items. Rates of public parking in many cities were revised to curb the no. of vehicles on the roads and these efforts have started to bear fruit. Similar steps should be taken to reduce tobacco consumption in the society. Increasing the cost of tobacco items and keeping them out of reach of the common man will certainly pave the way for a healthier tomorrow. Apart from these laws social initiatives can go a long way in this regard. For example, cigarette shops should be banned in places frequented by families. The govt. should also ensure that no tobacco shop exists in the vicinity of a school or any educational institution. Similar laws and initiative should be taken to reduce the consumption of alcohol and other frivolous items. 

 

             The govt. earns a lot of revenue from tobacco and alcohol products. Steps to curb tobacco and alcohol abuse will have an immense impact on the govt. earnings but this should not be help as a pretext to initiate any program to fight tobacco abuse. The health ministry has definitely done it’s bit to fight this menace but sometimes I feel their concern for the problem and their steps to eradicate it are phony. After all what sense does it make to increase the cost of cigarette and let the bidi business thrive? The price of cigarette is increased multiple no. of times but there is hardly any thing done to increase the price of bidi which is much more lethal as compared to the cigarette. The govt. should start taking firm steps rather than just adopt populist measures.  As the impact of globalization and modernization become more profound on the Indian society, the need for responsible social behavior becomes all the more pronounced. Even if the govt. fails in dispensing it’s responsibilities we should take the initiative to bring about the change. After all the least we can do is to ensure a healthy future for the coming generations.