Press Information Bureau

Government of India
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
31-March-2011 16:34 IST
National Consultation on Smokeless Tobacco

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Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
31-March-2011 16:34 IST
National Consultation on Smokeless Tobacco

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in collaboration with Pubic Health Foundation
of India (PHFI) and World Health Organization (WHO) is organizing a National Consultation
on Smokeless Tobacco on April 4-5, 2011 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Secretary Health
& Family Welfare, Govt of India Sh. K. Chandramouli would inaugurate the National
Consultations on 4th April 2011. The primary objective is to highlight current pattern and the
burden of use of smokeless tobacco in India, with a view to learn from global best practices
and find local solutions for regulation.

As per the recent Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) India Report, 2010, the
current use of smokeless tobacco among adult males in India is as high as 32.9% and for
Females it is 18.4%. Overall, 26% of the adult population consumes smokeless tobacco.The
Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS)-India, 2009 similarly revealed that 12.5% (Boys =
16.2%, Girls = 7.2%) youth use tobacco products other than cigarettes.

The GATS India Report notes that Khaini is the most commonly used smokeless
tobacco product. Gutkha is the second most common form. The consumption of smokeless
tobacco in India is also prevalent in use e.g. paan with tobacco, paan masala with tobacco,
Gul, Mawa, Mishri, Bajjar, Gudakhu etc, which are used as dentifrice i.e. for application on
teeth or gums. Evidence shows that smokeless tobacco contains more than 3000 chemical
compounds of which 29 are proven carcinogens i.e cancer causing substances.

Given this scenario, prominent national and international experts have been invited to
deliberate on the scientific evidences, while identifying the gaps in policy and capacity for
effective prevention and control of smokeless tobacco products both globally and in India.
The two day consultation with relevant stakeholders is expected to bring out
recommendations aiming at strategies to regulate use of smokeless tobacco in India and south
east Asia region.

According to ICMR, 50% of cancers among men and 25% among women in India are
related to tobacco use. Nearly 90% of oral cancers are related to use of chewing tobacco.
States with high prevalence of smokeless tobacco also face the challenge of high burden of
oral cancer. Besides oral cancer, smokeless tobacco use is also associated with cancers of
food pipe, pancreas, kidney throat and stomach. There is also increased risk of death from
cardiovascular diseases among smokeless tobacco users.
 Prevalence of Smokeless tobacco use is high in North East region and states like
Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa etc. State-wise consumption of smokeless tobacco is as follows:

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As per the recent Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) India Report, 2010, the
current use of smokeless tobacco among adult males in India is as high as 32.9% and for
Females it is 18.4%. Overall, 26% of the adult population consumes smokeless tobacco.The
Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS)-India, 2009 similarly revealed that 12.5% (Boys =
16.2%, Girls = 7.2%) youth use tobacco products other than cigarettes.

The GATS India Report notes that Khaini is the most commonly used smokeless
tobacco product. Gutkha is the second most common form. The consumption of smokeless
tobacco in India is also prevalent in use e.g. paan with tobacco, paan masala with tobacco,
Gul, Mawa, Mishri, Bajjar, Gudakhu etc, which are used as dentifrice i.e. for application on
teeth or gums. Evidence shows that smokeless tobacco contains more than 3000 chemical
compounds of which 29 are proven carcinogens i.e cancer causing substances.

Given this scenario, prominent national and international experts have been invited to
deliberate on the scientific evidences, while identifying the gaps in policy and capacity for
effective prevention and control of smokeless tobacco products both globally and in India.
The two day consultation with relevant stakeholders is expected to bring out
recommendations aiming at strategies to regulate use of smokeless tobacco in India and south
east Asia region.

According to ICMR, 50% of cancers among men and 25% among women in India are
related to tobacco use. Nearly 90% of oral cancers are related to use of chewing tobacco.
States with high prevalence of smokeless tobacco also face the challenge of high burden of
oral cancer. Besides oral cancer, smokeless tobacco use is also associated with cancers of
food pipe, pancreas, kidney throat and stomach. There is also increased risk of death from
cardiovascular diseases among smokeless tobacco users.