Medical representatives specialize in one area and make the health professionals prescribe the particular product of their company. Their job is to promote the existing medicine to the doctors, pharmacists, and chemists.
It has been a bad trend in the our region by many doctors to accept gifts from the Medical Representatives, a trend which has been criticized by many.
Very recently, Top most Government Hospital of Kashmir The SKIMS administration has curtailed the visits of Medical Representatives to the hospital premises. The prescription of branded medicines has also been banned in the institute.
In this regard ,an order issued by SKIMS reads, “It has been conveyed by Director General Health Services, Government of India, and endorsed by Director SKIMS & Ex. Officio Secretary to Government, that all the medications prescribed in Government Hospitals should be Generic Medicines only and not in any case branded medicines.”
In this regard, it is also reiterated that visits of Medical Representatives to Government Hospitals premises are completely curtailed. Any information about new launch may be communicated by e-mail only,” it reads further.
The larger pulse on ground zero is that
entry of Medical Representatives (MRs) in Government hospitals of Jammu and Kashmir during official hours is causing a mess in hospitals with doctors giving them preference over patients ,and it needs to be curtailed.
In year 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had warned India’s top pharmaceutical companies to strictly adhere to marketing ethics, and not to bribe doctors with women, foreign trips and gadgets, ThePrint has learnt.
Government sources had said PM Modi met senior officials from top drug-makers, including Zydus Cadila, Torrent Pharmaceuticals and Wockhardt, in New Delhi on 2 January.
“The issue of unethical use of marketing tactics has been escalated to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) which, in turn, made calls to some top drug-makers and fixed a meeting with the PM,” said a senior government official who attended the meeting.
It has been long felt in Jammu and Kashmir too that medical representatives and doctor nexus is not overall good for health sector of Jammu and Kashmir.
One hopes in Jammu and Kashmir too Patient healthcare would be priority and not the interests of Medical Representatives. Ensuring hassle free and ethical health care for all is the need of the hour.
Corporal punishment has been menace adversely affecting our children especially in schools and homes.
Corporal punishment of people is by hitting them, especially the punishment of children by parents or teachers.
In Indian context, Corporal punishment means any punishment in which a certain amount of physical force is used with the intention of causing some degree of pain or discomfort, however light but sometimes brutal too. This punishment is mostly given by using hands (spanking, slapping, punching, etc.) and/or by hitting (using a stick, belt, shoes, etc.).
Corporal punishment especially of children has been a problem in Jammu and Kashmir too.
In a historic decision aimed at safeguarding the well being and mental health of students, the Department of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) few days issued a circular imposing a ‘blanket ban on corporal punishment and other forms of child abuse’ in all educational institutions within its jurisdiction.
On the otherhand,
The circular cites a report from the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences-Kashmir (IMHANS-K), which raised serious concerns about the adverse effects of corporal punishment on the mental health of school-going children.
Such punitive measures not only hinder the learning process but also create an atmosphere of fear and hostility within the educational institutions, the circular reads.
The DSEK has impressed upon school heads, teaching officials, and educational authorities, both from government and private institutions, to strictly adhere to the ban on corporal punishment and other forms of child abuse.
Manzoor Sultan , an eminent academic expert observed that ” Corporal punishment inflicts long-term harm both physically and mentally on children. The Government of Jammu and Kashmir decision to announce blanket ban on corporal punishment is a welcome decision. The children should never be given corporal punishment. We need to understand that corporal punishment is sometimes viewed on just few paradigms but it also includes verbal abuse of children or demotivating them and causing harm to their creative think. The need of the hour is to ensure also effective monitoring of education system so that children don’t face any problem. It has been seen that Corporal punishment strikes severe fear in the hearts and minds of students and can easily make them to drop out of school. The stakeholders including students , teachers and policy makers along with administrators should use quality interactions to make our education system friendly and creative for all. Back to village has been highly successful , likewise back to School programe should be started to ensure effective interactive sessions with IAS /IPS toppers and scientists, entrepreneurs and role models would make our students career conscious.”
Throughout the world the need of developing quality education system is dependent on creating an atmosphere of love for students.
The pulse of Jammu and Kashmir society is welcoming blanket ban on corporal punishment.
Topaz Shrestha is an Irish/Nepalese PhD researcher from University College Cork (UCC), Ireland. Her area of expertise is in Environmental and Ecopsychology. She is passionate about restoring our bond to the natural world and equal access to nature for all. Her current work revolves around the interconnection between human and environmental health; climate change and psychological well-being. Specifically, she is exploring the relationship between our environment and well-being and how forming a strong connection to the natural world can enhance health and happiness while simultaneously forming the basis for environmental stewardship.
Growing up in rural Ireland, Topaz has noticed the profound effect of spending time in nature on her own well-being and the potential for this connection to support our intrinsic motivation to engage in pro-environmental behaviour. Research demonstrates a consistent positive trend between engagement with nature and improved physical and mental health outcomes. Moreover, the research emphasises that nature-connectedness is one of the strongest predictors of pro-environmental behaviour. Therefore, it is of significant concern that urbanisation, environmental degradation and the challenges of modern living are reducing engagement with the natural environment. A presiding narrative is that modern- urbanized lifestyles have diminished healthy human relationships with nature, resulting in many health issues and reduced well-being. Many of us seem physically and psychologically disconnected from nature, which has implications for both personal and planetary well-being. This disconnect is particularly evident within younger generations who are often deprived of direct contact with nature. Longitudinal evidence suggests that over the last few decades, contemporary youth are spending less time outdoors than previous generations (Chawla, 2015; Larson et al., 2019) and that this movement away from nature has had a negative impact on not only our well-being but has engendered an apathetic attitude towards nature that has perpetuated climate inaction and the destruction of ecosystems into adulthood. This wider movement away from nature is reflective of a zeitgeist whereby we perceive ourselves as separate from nature and engage in activity which has ultimately led to the climate crisis we face today.
The government and public health administrations are beginning to recognise the importance of proximity to and engagement with nature as not only a health promotion tool and a
determinant of well-being but also as a powerful catalyst for environmental stewardship. Recently, there is growing interest in this disconnection between humans and nature. This interest has inspired a movement towards a synergistic approach to addressing the climate
crisis in tandem with restoring our bond to the natural world. This interest is predominantly driven by young people who have recognised that they are not merely victims of the climate crisis but can be the agents of change and are subsequently integral to long-term efforts to create a more sustainable and equitable society (WHO, 2022). Young people are often most vocal in calling for urgent and ambitious climate action. According to mental health professionals, the array of climate-related emotions that many young people feel is reflective of their awareness of our disconnection from the natural world and compassion towards the Earth (Diffey, 2022; Hickman, 2020). This awareness and compassion, along with the unique perspective of many young people can act as a catalyst to promote nature-connection and help societies to mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis.
Topaz’s PhD research focuses on this topic. She is currently working on two interdisciplinary projects at the climate-biodiversity health nexus. Firstly, along with my supervision team made up of Dr Zelda Di Blasi, Dr Sarah Foley and Dr Marica Cassarino, she is carrying out an umbrella review which aims to synthesise the available evidence on nature–based interventions (NBIs). NBIs are health interventions which aim to promote health and wellbeing by bringing you physically and psychologically closer to nature. This project focuses mainly on the intersections of nature–based interventions that enhance mental health and wellbeing, while promoting the restoration of the natural world. This research has an impact at the intersection of two major global crises; mental health and climate change.
Nature-based solutions (NBS); solutions that are inspired by nature, are cost-effective, and synergistically have the potential to provide environmental, economic and social benefits for diverse populations. From her previous work, Topaz recognises that here is a need to consider the personal meaning that people hold for nature if we are to collectively respond to the mental health and climate challenge. Accordingly her second project revolves around the personal meaning that young people hold for the natural world – exploring how young people perceive, experience and make sense of natural spaces and what makes them want to protect it. At a foundational level, more research is required to understand how young people in varying circumstances and SES communities perceive nature, and what their relationship to nature looks like
Interdisciplinary research is crucial to addressing societal challenges, which are generally highly complex. This project which revolves around interdisciplinary collaboration – combining theories and hypotheses from youth work, conservation/biodiversity management and environmental, positive, environmental and ecopsychology – is in alignment with global objectives. The European Union has identified seven priority challenges where targeted investment in research and innovation can have a tangible impact. How we respond to these challenges, nationally and internationally, will be the key determinant of societal development in the coming years. Furthermore, this research addresses issues of health equity and environmental justice. Social inequalities in access to natural spaces and the quality of these environments is one of the biggest barriers we face, which has been echoed in our qualitative findings. The United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11.7 proposes that “by 2030, [states should] provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, particularly for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.” This project will help to achieve these goals by capturing the individual testimonies of young people which emphasise the need for equal access to nature and ensuring these appeals are shared with people in positions of power/decision-makers.
Additionally, this project aims to ensure that the voices of young people are amplified in a meaningful way. Currently, young people often only have a tokenistic involvement in climate discussions (Diffey et al., 2022; Arora et al., 2022). For instance, during COP26, numerous young activists felt they were involved in the event as a novelty but did not actually feel heard (Brown, 2022). Individuals of all ages and cultural backgrounds should have their lived experiences, opinions and experiential knowledge valued; and they should be encouraged to contribute meaningfully to the solutions we need (Diffey et al., 2022). We envision this research supporting an equitable transition into a society which is characterised by enhanced nature connection and a wider consciousness of our symbiotic relationship with the natural world. We hope that this project empowers young people to understand that they are not merely victims of the climate crisis, but rather they can be the agents of change at the forefront of a global movement towards a happier, more sustainable future. Further, this research may provide individuals with personal reflections on their relationship to nature. We hope that this research will encourage people to reflect on the reciprocal nature we have with the Earth and recognise how human and environmental health are deeply interconnected. This process of reflection and consideration of our connection with the natural world may help to empower people to feel more motivated in the fight against the climate/biodiversity crisis.
This intergenerational collaboration and knowledge exchange, across cultures and disciplines is essential if we are to tackle these issues which are pervasive on a global scale. Young people must be given platforms by governments, institutions and corporations to share their thoughts, feelings, needs and hopes for the future.
Links
Link to Topaz’s Masters thesis, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH). This projected investigated the impact of our environment on vitality, mood and wellbeing. Findings indicated that one’s sense of
wellbeing is closely related to our immediate environment. This research provided insight into the multiple mechanisms through which nature can support human health and emphasised why as a collective we must think about the importance of protecting the natural elements that surround us and increasing people’s opportunities to access them. https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/4/2003
Anemia is a worrying disease. Anemia is a problem of not having enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin to carry oxygen to the body’s tissues. Hemoglobin is a protein found in red cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to all other organs in the body. Having anemia can cause tiredness, weakness and shortness of breath.
As a matter of fact, there are many forms of anemia. Each has its own cause. Anemia can be short term or long term. It can range from mild to severe. Anemia can be a warning sign of serious illness.
On the otherhand,
Treatments for anemia might involve taking supplements or having medical procedures. Eating a healthy diet might prevent some forms of anemia.
According to the report released recently, 66 percent women in Jammu and Kashmir have anaemia, including 25 percent with mild anaemia, 38 percent with moderate anaemia, and 3 percent with severe anaemia.
“Anaemia is particularly high among rural women, women aged 15-19, and other backward class women, but anaemia exceeds 40 percent for every group of women.”
per the report, during NFHS-4, 49 percent non-pregnant women aged between 15-49 were anaemic, which has increased to 67.3 percent during NFHS-5.
However, slight improvement has been in anaemic condition of pregnant women aged 15-49 as during NFHS-4 46.9 percent women were found anaemic while during NFHS-5 44.1 percent women were found anaemic.
The prevalence of anaemia among children aged between six months to five years has increased to 73 per cent in Jammu and Kashmir in the last few years, Union Health Ministry in its report said.
As per the figures compiled by Union Health Ministry, the prevalence of anaemia among children aged six months to five years is highest in Ladakh (90 per cent), followed by Gujarat (80 per cent), Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (76 per cent), Madhya Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir (73 per cent), and Punjab and Rajasthan ( 71 percent).
Dr. Ratan Lal Kaul world renowned in Opthamology and neurology fields ,while talking to News Kashmir stated :” Anaemia is very much present in large proportions in Jammu and Kashmir. Children and women are most hit by Anaemia. The reasons are multifold . First and foremost our eating habits are not good. The vegetarian and non vegetarian diet we get is compromised. The food here is of most substandard quality. Poverty is also compounding the problems like Anaemia. Protein deficiency and Vitamin D deficiency is also adding to the diseases like Anaemia.”
One hopes we will take corrective measures to address anemia in Kashmir.
Land to Homeless has always been a burning topic. To own a land in order to build a house is dream of every human and family in this world. To have a home and piece of land is a basic indication of development and progress.
In a development laced with positivity and dynamism the
Jammu and Kashmir administration has started providing 150 square yard plots to landless families here for the construction of their houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (PMAY).
The LG said five marlas land (1,360 square feet) will be provided to each landless family.
The entire spectrum of Jammu and Kashmir is buoyant over the development.
” Few years ago the Prime Minister decided that every poor person should have a roof over their head. The main obstacle here was that there was no provision for giving land to landless families. We made a provision and approved it in the administrative council to provide land to landless construction of houses under the PMAY,” Manoj Sinha told in a press conference.
Voices across spectrum have welcomed this move.
Syed Irfan Hashmi, a socio-economic analyst states ” To own a home is biggest dream and need of the world from every humans vision.
The major issues faced by the landless and homeless people of Jammu and Kashmir were ignored since long. The LG administration has done a lot for them and this step of granting 5 marlas of land to each landless family has created widespread joy in Jammu and Kashmir. It was music to ears when LG Manoj affirmed that We have given plots to 2,711 landless families across Jammu and Kashmir. We will be providing land as per the list we have and hope to complete the existing backlog by March . Theseh are really grear steps which would go a long way in transforming lives of poor people of Jammu and Kashmir towards prosperity. “
LG Manoj Sinha made his vision clear.
P”The rural development department has identified 1.83 lakh families who do not have their own houses. We are working on it. It is a step that will not only provide a house to them but transform their lives,” he said.
“With housing needs taken care of, these families will start thinking of earning a better livelihood and education for their children. This puts them on the path to development,” LG Manoj Sinha said.
The LG said the Union Territory administration is duty-bound to provide land to remaining landless families.
“In the last 3-4 years, we have had success in providing social justice to people. There is no contradiction in our interactions and actions,” he added.
The pulse of Jammu and Kashmir is welcoming the move to provide land to landless and a step aimed to lift poor.
26 June js marked every year International Day against Drug Abusd and illicit Trafficking. In the valley of Kashmir drug abuse has been a serious issue rattling lives of innumerable youth and destroying many families. The action against drug peddlers and suppliers in recent times by Jammu and Kashmir Police and other law enforcement agencies is although a step in right direction.
As a matter of fact,
The decision to mark International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was taken on 7 December 1987 via resolution 42/112 of the United Nations General Assembly. The key objective of this assembly was to strengthen global action and cooperation in making the international society free of drug abuse.
On 26 June, every year International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is observed to spread awareness about the extreme cultural and economic harm the drug trade is still doing across the globe. It is necessary to strengthen global action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society of drug abuse.
We need to bear in mind that on 26 th June the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking to raise awareness about the impact of drug abuse and illicit trafficking of drug scores of programmes are marked throughout the world.
Both national and the global pulse was that the Drugs kill and ruin the lives of addicts. Drugs destroys the productivity and strength of a nation and make the user crippled to addiction.
Faisal Khankashi, a young socio-political activist states ” Drug addiction is worst enemy of humanity. Unfortunately, Kashmir too has seen much rise in this ugly tendency. The need of the hour is to rise against this monster. The action against suppliers of drugs by different law enforcement agencies in our region is a heart warming development.
On this anti-drug day, let’s take a step forward to aware everyone about harms of drug abuse and the same needs to be echeod in Kashmir. We should ensure to make Kashmir, country and world free from drug addiction.”
Expert pulse is also worried that in the past few decades especially Drug abuse has badly hit Kashmir with many surveys and ground reports suggesting abnormal rise in drug addicts in the valley of Kashmir.
From masses to expert voices all are concerned.
Voices of sanity opine that We need to understand that Life is the only sure thing we have and don’t need to destroy it with drugs.
It is an unfortunate fact that more people die of drug overdose than car crashes worldwide, the drug epidemic is being called the most avoidable yet common reason for death.
Hope is high that our planet would be free from drug addiction soon.
Electricity is the need of present times. It is paramount for spending a comfortable life for every human.Electricity is an essential part of modern life and important to the every economy. People use electricity for lighting, heating, cooling, and refrigeration and for operating appliances, computers, electronics, machinery, and public transportation systems. It is used to run TV and also our mobile, internet depend on it. Every facility of modern life is directly or indirectly dependent on electricity.
The electricity woes or power woes have been always a major issue in Kashmir valley, although in recent years it has shown marked improvement.
This summer Kashmir is witnessing severe power cuts. The inadequate and unreliable power supply has not only disrupted domestic activities but also caused setbacks for local businesses, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities.
Recently, Stating that no power curtailment schedule has been announced in the Valley, the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) on Saturday said that the electricity is being supplied as per the availability.
While talking to a news agency,
Chief Engineer, KPDCL, Javed Yousuf Dar said that there has been no circular with regard to the power curtailment in Kashmir. “The KPDCL has not announced any power curtailment,” he said when asked about the reports regarding two-hour power curtailment in morning and evening.
However, he said that the KPDCL has been managing the electricity supply to the people according to the availability.
“The electricity is being made available by JKPCL and we have been maintaining the electricity as per the availability and thus we have to go for the power curtailments because of the power availability issue at present,” he said.
He further said that there was no information about how long the issue will continue as it is the prerogative of JKPCL.
Pertinently, the consumers across Kashmir complained of erratic power cuts across the Valley, saying that there is no power schedule as the electricity is being snatched frequently, forcing them to reel under darkness.
Jammu and Kashmir has recorded a 25 per cent sudden cut in the power supply, a move that has triggered a “temporary power deficit in the UT.”
Consumers across length and breadth of Kashmir are facing dire situations due to lack of power supply in Kashmir, if this continues the ongoing summer will give many hardships to the masses.
Civil society of Kashmir is also concerned about unusual power cuts in Kashmir.
The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been observing the continued deteriorating electric power supply to people in general and the industrial and business concerns in particular, with grave concern.
A statement said that the erratic power supply with frequent breakdowns and unscheduled shutdowns is affecting public life in all spheres to an unbearable extent. “Contact the Chief Engineer he is too evasive to convince the aggrieved consumer about the prevailing irritating power supply system. As a result of frequently interrupted power supply apart from households sufferings; the industrial/business/traders/tourist establishments are incurring inexplicable losses besides mental agony.”
KCI would, therefore, request the administration to give considerate thought to the issue and the problems that it leads to and ensure straightening the system in a manner that the electricity consumers in all the fields of public life get uninterrupted 24×7 power supply which is the legitimate right of the people.
The need of the hour is to ensure unhindered power supply to the masses.
Climate Change is one of the serious issues facing humanity. In a ecologically fragile zone like Kashmir the climate change is also becoming a serious issue.
As a matter of fact, Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Such shifts can be natural, due to changes in the sun’s activity or large volcanic eruptions. But since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas.
Burning fossil fuels generates greenhouse gas emissions that act like a blanket wrapped around the Earth, trapping the sun’s heat and raising temperatures.
The main greenhouse gases that are causing climate change include carbon dioxide and methane. These come from using gasoline for driving a car or coal for heating a building, for example. Clearing land and cutting down forests can also release carbon dioxide. Agriculture, oil and gas operations are major sources of methane emissions. Energy, industry, transport, buildings, agriculture and land use are among the main sectors causing greenhouse gases.
On the other hand of the spectrum, Climate scientists have showed that humans are responsible for virtually all global heating over the last 200 years. Human activities like the ones mentioned above are causing greenhouse gases that are warming the world faster than at any time in at least the last two thousand years.
The average temperature of the Earth’s surface is now about 1.1°C warmer than it was in the late 1800s (before the industrial revolution) and warmer than at any time in the last 100,000 years. The last decade (2011-2020) was the warmest on record, and each of the last four decades has been warmer than any previous decade since 1850.
How the Spring season gave feel of winters this year and how less snow was witnessed this year in Kashmir is all but evident of worrying climate change.
Last year, it was revealed that
The average mean temperature in Jammu and Kashmir has increased in the last 28 years due to climate change, a senior official said last year . He said agriculture is the only sector that can help reduce poverty by raising incomes and food security for 80 per cent of the world’s poor populace.
“J&K is also witnessing the brunt of climate change and average mean temperature in last 28 years has climbed up by 2.32°C and 1.45°C in Jammu and Kashmir region, respectively,” Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Atal Dulloo said after inaugurating a two-day international conference on “existing climate change scenario and its arising risks” here.
Also the expert pulse is that,
should prepare ourselves and our farmers to adapt to these weather changes so that they do not suffer on the economic front.
On the otherhand of spectrum, this year the
The quite fluid and unusualweather conditions in the Kashmir Valley have kept the residents and farmers on edge. As the May rains continue in June, when the locals were expecting an ideal sunny afternoon, the direct impact of climate change on the Himalayan region is keeping the growers anxious.
Farmers from several districts of the Valley are worried that the heavy, and untimely, rainfall along with hailstorms is also damaging the crops.
The climate change is undoubtedly a issue of serious nature for a place like Kashmir and we need to take steps to mitigate its impacts, otherwise sectors like agriculture would be badly hurt.
Blood donation is key part of saving lives on the planet.
The world Blood Donar Day provides an opportunity to call to action to governments and national health authorities to provide adequate resources and put into place systems to increase the collection of blood from voluntary, non-renumerated blood donors. Safe blood and blood products and their transfusion are significant aspects of care and public health. Every day, they save millions of lives and improve the health and quality of various patients.
World Blood Donor Day is observed on 14 June to mark the anniversary of Karl Landsteiner. It was first celebrated in 2004 to spread awareness about the need for regular blood donations and its requirement to save lives. On this day, Blood Donors donate blood themselves to save the lives whether of accident victims or those who are in need of blood transfusion for the surgeries.
The transfer of blood or components of blood from one person i.e. donor into the bloodstream of another person i.e. the recipient. It acts as a lifesaving operation to replace blood cells or blood products lost through bleeding or due to depression of the bone marrow.
As a matter of fact, in May 2005, WHO officially established with its 192 Member States, World Blood Donor Day at the 58th World Health Assembly in order to motivate all the countries worldwide to thank the blood donors for their precious step and saving lives of the people.
Objectives of celebrating World Blood Donor Day
– To provide a global platform to thank individuals who donate blood and to encourage those who have not yet donated.To raise awareness that blood donation action benefits society as a whole.
We should take pledge to donate blood on eve of world blood donor Day 2023 .
Tobacco is a monster adversely hitting our society. Throughout world and also in our country India it poses a grim challenge. Rampant Tobacco use is also a challenge for Jammu and Kashmir region.
Recently This yearly celebration informs the public on the dangers of using tobacco, the business practices of tobacco companies, what WHO is doing to fight the tobacco epidemic, and what people around the world can do to claim their right to health and healthy living and to protect future generations.
The Member States of the World Health Organization created World No Tobacco Day in 1987 to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and the preventable death and disease it causes. In 1987, the World Health Assembly passed Resolution WHA40.38, calling for 7 April 1988 to be a “a world no-smoking day.” In 1988, Resolution WHA42.19 was passed, calling for the celebration of World No Tobacco Day, every year on 31 May.
The data points out serious issues we are seeing on front of Tobacco use in Kashmir.
About 32 percent men and one percent women consume tobacco in Jammu and Kashmir with cigarettes being the main tobacco product, NHFS-5 data revealed.
Official data available showed that only 1 percent of women in the age 15-49 group use some form of tobacco.
“Tobacco products mostly used by men are cigarettes (27%), bidis (4%), hookah and cigars or pipe (2% each). Among women and men, the use of any form of tobacco is slightly higher in rural areas (1.4% for women and 35% for men) than in urban areas (0.7% for women and 24% for men),” the data adds. “Over one-third (35%) of men who smoke cigarettes smoked 5 to 9 cigarettes in the past 24 hours.”
The data observed around 0.2 percent women in urban areas and 0.5 in rural areas use cigarettes while 21.1 men in urban areas and 28.7 percent in rural areas smoke cigarettes.
We need to bear in mind that There are 267 million tobacco users in India, making it the country with the second largest number of tobacco users in the world (behind China).
Approximately 100 million people ages 15 and older currently smoke tobacco (cigarettes and bidis).
Approximately 200 million people ages 15 and older use smokeless tobacco.
Tobacco use is higher in rural areas, among those with a lower socioeconomic status, and among those with lower levels of education.
Tobacco use prevalence is also significantly higher among men (42.4%) versus women (14.2%).
Despite increased awareness campaigns and stringent regulations, tobacco use continues to impact the youth in various ways, leading to both immediate and long-term consequences.
The pulse on ground zero in Kashmir, Country and world is that steps should be taken to end use of tobacco.
