AGARTALA, March 10 (TIWN): The effect of tobacco has created a disastrous effect on the present and future generations of the society. While State Government in order to increase their revenue, has reduced the VAT on tobacco and tobacco products. On the other hand, Central Government and other State Government in their recent budget had increased the VAT on these products, so that people would find it impossible to swallow these harmful products. Therefore, indirectly the State Government of Tripura has inspired the people to march forward into danger, only to serve their own purpose.

Finance Minister in His Budget speech (67th Point) stated that, “For the purpose of additional resource mobilization rationalization of rates of different taxes and excise duties has been done. VAT on Tobacco and Tobacco products has been reduced from 35% to 25% with effect from October 14, 2014 and other products. As a result of revision of rates, it is expected additional revenue to the tune of Rs 15.50 crores per annum would be generated. “.

While Central Government is trying heart and soul to reduce the number of tobacco swallowers and smokers. For this, they are ready to face financial constraints also. It is to be mention that, according to the latest report of the union health and family welfare ministry, Mizoram (67.2 percent), Nagaland (56.8 percent) Tripura (55.9 percent) have the highest number of tobacco users in India, while, 34.6 percent of the adult Indian population is the national average for tobacco use.

According to the experts of health department, incidence of cancer has been rising alarmingly in the hilly northeastern region of India, almost half the cases being attributed to consumption of tobacco products. There has been a startling 36 per cent rise in the incidence of cancer in Tripura in the past five years .According to records available with the Tripura RCC, the number of patients registered with the institute in 2006 was 1,263. But the figure increased to 1,386 in 2007, 1,444 in 2008, 1,524 in 2009 and 1,726 in 2010.The lifestyle of the people of the hilly state, especially their extensive consumption of tobacco coupled with consumption of smoked meat and vegetables, resulted in the high incidence of cancer.

According to World Health Organization, “the health effects of tobacco are the circumstances, mechanisms, and factors by which tobacco consumption affects human health. Epidemiological research has been focused primarily on cigarette tobacco smoking, which has been studied more extensively than any other form of tobacco consumption. Tobacco is the single greatest cause of preventable death globally.

 The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that tobacco caused 5.4 million deaths in 2004 and 100 million deaths over the course of the 20th century similarly, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes tobacco use as "the single most important preventable risk to human health in developed countries and an important cause of premature death worldwide.”Several countries have taken measures to control the consumption of tobacco with usage and sales restrictions as well as warning messages printed on packaging.