Manipur in 5th position in tobacco usage in India
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, January 31 2013: Global Adult Tobacco Survey Gates Manipur Factsheet 2009-10 was released today by Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Minister Francis Ngajokpa.

The factsheet was released during a function organised by Directorate of Health Services Manipur in association with World Health Organisation (WHO) at Hotel Classic here today.

RD & PR Minister Francis Ngajokpa and Principal Secretary of Health, Family Welfare R Muiva and MLA W Brajabidhu attended the function as Cheif Guest, President and Guest of Honour respectively.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister Francis Ngajokpa said that tobacco plants are still being used for medicinal purposes in remote hill areas of the state.

However, the usage of tobacco products as an intoxicant has reached the danger zone as its usage is increasing alarmingly in the state.

So, it is time to put a ban on tobacco products in the State.

However, instead of wholly relying on the State Government, CSOs should also take an active role in putting a ban on tobacco products in the State to save the society.

The Minister also assured that he would be taking up the issue for discussion in the State Cabinet.

Principal Secretary R Muivah said that many Indian states have already imposed ban on tobacco products in their respective states.

But in Manipur, the government is unable to take up any effective measure to ban such products.

Only if the State Cabinet takes a decision on this, these harmful products could be banned effectively in the state.

Later, in a press conference, CMO of National Tobacco Control Programme, Dr L Swajticharan said that Manipur is in the fifth place in the whole country in term of consumption of tobacco products.

Most of the North Eastern states of India are among the top list of tobacco consumption.

Mizoram top the list with 67 percent tobacco consumption while Nagaland is in second place with 57 percent.

Tripura is in the third place with 56 percent, Meghalaya in the fourth place with 55 percent while Manipur and Bihar share the fifth place with 54 percent tobacco consumption.

In this regard, a campaign under the name Campaign for Tobacco Free North East will be held on February 27 and 28 in Guwahati.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi will be inaugurating the campaign which is being organised under the aegis of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The organising committee is planning to involve Chief Ministers and Health Ministers of the North Eastern states in the campaign.

Rallies by students against tobacco products and media workshops will also be held as part of the campaign, he added.

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