Light To Lamp Lights: 63 ►In The Shadow of Death

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is an organisation which is concerned about the health of the entire human race. For some time past, it observes every year May 31 as the World Anti-Tobacco Day. The aim of observing this Day is to attract the public attention towards the evil effects of tobacco. According to the scientists who have done research in this subject, there is a possibility of a terrible loss of human life during the decade of2020­2030. If this possibility is statistically presented, nearly 30 million people have been given a warning of death. That mass killing would not be the result of any nuclear explosion nor of any natural calamity like floods or an earthquake. One hundred million people are likely to be the victim of illnesses resulting from tobacco consumption.

What could be the reason for not banning tobacco despite the fact that research is done aboutfavourable and unfavourable effects of the tobacco products, the appropriate reckoning of the percent­age of the people who smoke in the world, the information about the resulting illnesses and the clear warning about possible destruction? The World Health Organisation, the Care Foundation of India and similar organisations can examine these rea­sons. We ourselves have no such facilities or has it been possible for us to discuss this question with experts. Nevertheless, from my point of view, there can be only one reason for this and that is the financial benefit. The companies manufacturing tobacco products have their own illusions. The companies or persons advertising their products have their own selfish motives. This business is continuously thriving at the cost of human health. Is it not the symbol of economic madness?

When some ten or twenty persons die in an accident, it receives instant attention. Special orders are issued for the investigation. The matter is raised in the LokSabha, RajyaSabha and the State Legislatures. The reports of the incident are pub­lished with big headlines in the newspapers as well. But no one is bothered about the incident because of which the lives of millions of people are coming under the shadow of death. Is this not astonishing?

Tobacco consumption is declining in the devel­oped countries and it is increasing in the developing countries. About India, it is said that it gives importance to foreign' ideas and things. Do the people of India have different ideas about tobacco? If the attitude towards tobacco is changing in the countries considered as world powers, why is it not having its impact on India? Smoking is more common among men than among women. This ratio is even smaller in the developing countries. A new conspiracy is under way to reduce this difference. Special types of cigarettes are being manufactured in order to encourage ciga­rette smoking women. It is also a matter of concern that innocent women fall victims to this conspiracy. But the conspirators are so clever that they are duping the wealthy and educated women. I am sure that if women would have even a little understand­ing and awareness, they would be able to keep themselves out of this conspiracy. Otherwise, be­cause of them their whole families would be standing on the precipice of ruin.