Kick The Ash Out Of Sight!

James Watson *

Jamia Millia Islamia became the first smoke-free university in the capital way back in April, 2005. Delhi University (north campus) followed suit when it declared itself a non-smoking zone earlier this year.

Now the stub is to be pushed out of the scene, especially in public places from 2nd October onwards.

Britain, France, Ireland and Thailand are among the countries that already have similar bans in place. The new order bars smoking in hotels, eateries, cafes, pubs, bars, discotheques, offices, airports, railway stations, bus stops, shopping malls and parks.

The smokers and tobacco producers have come out loudly against the ban. Some have even declared to defy the law which they feel is a violation of their right. Celebrities and social workers gave mixed reactions to the new law.

But overall, the whole country, especially, the youth brigands gave a thumps up to the ban. "If the smokers have a right to smoke, we have a right to a smoke free atmosphere," that's their argument and very truly indeed.

Studies have proved that it is the passive smokers that face a greater risk than the smokers. According to Health Ministry, about 2500 Indians die everyday from tobacco use. Tobacco and its products do no good to the health of a person. There are no benefits of smoking.

Smoking, whether it is in the form of cigarettes, bidi, cigar or hookah, is a form of nicotine addiction. All of them are harmful.

The worst thing about smoking is that it affects not only the smoker himself but his non smoking family and friends. Whenever he/she smokes, he/she indirectly or directly causes harm to the non-smokers.

Both the active and passive smokers face the risk of cancer, tuberculosis, heart disease, lung diseases, etc. While a smoker suffering from any of these diseases may be justified, a non smoker suffering from one of the diseases, thanks to his smoker friend or neighbour is not.

Who can be held responsible for a non smoker suffering from a disease caused by smoking? The smokers talk about violation of their right in the ban. They seem to be oblivious of the fact that they are eating into the rights of the non smokers of a smoke free atmosphere.

They, in fact, cause the non smokers losses with no faults of theirs.

Smoking/tobacco accounts for more than 40% of death in India (directly or indirectly). The sad fact is that it's not only the smokers who die. In such a scenario, all the smokers and the whole tobacco industry should be charged with multiple murder cases/ massacre.

All of them know that it is bad not only for their health but for the whole population. They know that smoking can kill. Why do they still continue to produce such harmful products which give no benefit to anyone? Don't you think it's murder in broad daylight?

Even the government admits that the revenue generated by tobacco industry amounts to less than its medical costs. According to the government sources tobacco industry yields about 270 billion rupees annually, but its medical cost touches the 300 billion mark, annually!

It's a wonder why the government still allows the tobacco manufacturing industries to flourish in the country. While the ban of smoking is a step forward, the government should consider banning tobacco completely.

If not, the non smokers should be allowed compensation both from the government and tobacco industry.