State Cabinet Okays tobacco ban
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, February 14 2013: Following suit other Indian States, and alarmed over rising cases of cancer, particularly Oral cancer, the State Cabinet has decided to ban tobacco products in Manipur.

A meeting of the State Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh at the Chief Minister's Secretariat here today decided to ban sale and consumption of tobacco products like cigarette, gutka, khaini, zarda in Manipur.

Accordingly, the Cabinet has also given its approval to entrusting the task of imposing the ban to the related law enforcing agencies.

It may be noted here that the Global Adult Tobacco Survey Gates Manipur Factsheet 2009-10 which was released here recently has placed Manipur is fifth place along with Bihar in term of consumption of tobacco products in the whole country at 54 percent in term of consumption of tobacco products.

Many Indian States like Maharashtra, Kerala, Bihar, Punjab, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Goa, etc have already banned tobacco products in view of the harmful effects from consumption of tobacco products like cigarette, gutka, khaini, zarda, etc on the health of the people.

It is said that India, which is the third largest economy in Asia, battles almost 80,000 new cases of oral cancer yearly.

The treatment of tobacco-related diseases cost more than $5 billion in 2002-2003, according to the most recent data available cited in a health ministry and WHO report.

Among other agenda discussed in the State Cabinet, it has been decided to hold the next sitting of the State Assembly from March 6 to 8 .

Furthermore, the State Cabinet has agreed in principle to change Manipur Electricity Department into corporation.

It has also given approval to the proposal for an increase in the amount of grant-in-aid provided to Imphal Municipal Council (IMC) .

Comment