Nationalising tobacco industry the only way to control tobacco: Hemant

Speaking on the need and strategy to control tobacco, chairperson of Burning Brain Society and one of the leading tobacco control activist Mr. Hemant Goswami detailed about the future possibilities and strategies to control tobacco. He emphasised that it was impossible to restrain the profit minded tobacco companies just by enforcing legislation or any suchlike means and therefore the only effective way to stop the one million annual death toll due to tobacco was by chalking out a firm fade-out plan which required that the government takes over the tobacco industry under its complete control by nationalising it.
Further detailing a plan for nationalisation of the tobacco industry Hemant Goswami said that the government should chalk out a 20 years phase-out plan with a targeted and properly planned 5 to 10 percent de-growth for the tobacco industry every year. After the premeditated period of 20 years the tobacco industry will shrink to the size of les than one sixth of the present size and then it could be ultimately put to an end. This kind of planning shall also be in the interest of the highly exploited tobacco farmers as the earning from tobacco during the intervening period can go to these marginalised farmers and thereby enable a scientifically phased shifting of the tobacco crop with other cash rich crops. Currently all the earning generated by exploiting tobacco farmers and by tobacco sales are siphoned by a handful of rich tobacco manufacturers and individuals but after nationalisation of the industry a part of the tobacco earning could also be used to treat tobacco related ailments and to meet other health care costs.
In a civilised society “Why should any individual be allowed to profit from someone else’s miseries and death? When for a relatively minor violation affecting human health like selling pest infested daal, food articles, etc. one is put behind bars (for years) under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, then how can we turn a nelsons’ eye to a deadly product like tobacco?” questioned Hemant.
Emphasising on the other strategy of licensing all tobacco shops, for which Burning Brain Society is trying to convince the government since last two years, Hemant said, “When even benevolent medicines are sold only through licensed chemists then why should a fatal drug delivery product, “Tobacco” be openly sold. Immediate licensing of all tobacco related activities will add billions of rupees to the government kitty and also be highly helpful in regulating most of the tobacco related demand side violations.”
“It has been two years since the tobacco control act has been legislated but still not even a single case of violation has been registered across any of the 35 states or union territory of India against any tobacco company. This is despite the fact that grave violations of legal provisions of the Cigarette and the tobacco products 2003 takes place every day. The patronage of corrupt bureaucrats and many selfish politicians enables the tobacco companies to continue target youngsters and children and openly promote tobacco through various other means, though banned by law. One tobacco company has gone to the extent of legally making payment of over four and a half crore rupees (and even mentioned it in its balance sheet to claim tax benefit) through cheques to 18 political parties with representation in the parliament.” It’s the whole nation which looses out on account of greed of a few individuals which allow the tobacco industry to flourish, lamented Hemant.