Almost all tobacco consumers, adults and kids, like Gutkha, a preparation of crushed betel nut, tobacco, catechu, lime and sweet or tasty flavorings. It is manufactured in India and exported to a few other countries. In general it is consumed much like chewing tobacco.

Highly addictive and a known carcinogen, gutkha is currently the subject of much debate in India. According to a recent study approximately 42% of the people surveyed preferred to chew on Gutkha. However, only 34% of tobacco users in Ahmedabad are aware of the pictorial warnings and harmful effects of chewing tobacco.

These facts was found when Gujarat Voluntary Health Association (GVHA) conducted a pilot survey in the city, to find out the status of pressure of Cigarette and Other Smoking Products Act, (COTPA) 2003, in Ahmedabad.

The survey also found that 70% of government offices that were part of the survey did not display the sculptural signage for ban on smoking in the office. Other places like malls, schools, hospitals also didn’t put up the signage.

The sample size of the research was 150 and around 20 occasional places were taken into account for the survey which was done on a pilot-project base and took around one and half months.

Mihir Dave, project manager of GVHA, said: “Most pedagogic institutions were not displaying the mandatory warning on prohibition of sale of any kind of tobacco product within 100 yards of the institutions.”

Dave added: “Despite the fact that smoking in public places was banned with effect from October 2, 2008, most government offices are yet to display the mandatory “No smoking” sign in their respective premises.”

President of GVHA, Geeta Raval explained that most of the tobacco users started consuming tobacco in several forms before they turned 18. Most of them were not aware of the harmful effects of tobacco use at the time when they started consuming tobacco products. Most of the tobacco consumers which were asked were not only unaware of the ban on smoking in public places but were also of the pictorial warning on cigarettes packs.

Scientists concluded that out of all the cancer cases in Ahmedabad, 40% are affected due to tobacco consumption. Therefore, even after all the anti-tobacco campaigns efforts smokers continue to consume tobacco products.

By Steve Shepherd, Staff Writer. Copyright © 2010 Cigarette-Store.org. All rights reserved.