Breaking New Grounds in Tobacco Control - Voluntary Health ...

strategies to reduce the demand of
tobacco, the ways and means for providing
economically viable alternative livelihoods
to tobacco workers need immediate
attention. As of today, the cultivation of
FCV tobacco (Flue-Cured Virginia variety)
is supported and regulated by the Tobacco
Board under the Ministry of Commerce. FCV
cultivation provides high net gains to the
farmers with export potential and there
are few alternative crops available to FCV
tobacco. Non-FCV tobacco (bidi/hukka/
chewing tobacco) constitutes almost half
the tobacco grown in the country, but is
not as lucrative as FCV. Some evidence
already exists on possible alternative
crops and livelihood options to non-FCV
tobacco. The Ministry of Health decided
to lead a pilot project on alternate crops
to non- FCV tobacco varieties in 2008-09
implemented by CTRI, Rajahmundry and as
per the preliminary report submitted by the
institute, economically viable options to
bidi/hukka/chewing tobacco are possible
in different agro-ecological zones in the
country. Meanwhile, taking further the
commitments to reduce the area under
tobacco cultivation, as mandated under
Articles 17, 18 of WHO FCTC, for the first
time in the history of tobacco control
in India, the Tobacco Board organized
sensitization meetings for FCV tobacco
growers in Guntur (Andhra Pradesh) and
Mysore (Karnataka) in 2011, to raise
awareness on provisions under WHO FCTC
and the need to shift over to alternative
livelihoods. The Board has also taken
stringent steps to limit the cultivation of
FCV tobacco to prescribed limits and has
taken punitive action against the farmers
violating such provisions.
v. The Global Adult Tobacco Survey
- GATS was also undertaken as part of
NTCP, which was the first ever dedicated
For the Millions
n 12
household survey to study the prevalence
of tobacco use among adults, exposure to
second hand smoke, cessation and other
tobacco-related indicators in the country.
The findings of the survey revealed that the
smokeless tobacco is the most prevalent
form of tobacco use among adults and also
provided baseline data to guide policies in
the country.
B. To strengthen anti-tobacco activities at
the state level, support was provided for
manpower and infrastructure to establish
State Tobacco Control Cells in 9 states in
the first phase of NTCP. One programme
assistant and one data entry operator were
provided for each of the states. However,
the establishment of State Tobacco Control
Cells was not supported for the 12 states
in the second phase of the pilot NTCP.
C. Under the District Tobacco Control
Programme, funds were provided to set
up District Tobacco Control Cells in each
of the 42 districts covered under the
programme. The support included hiring
of human resource in the form of one
Psychologist/Counselor, one social worker
and one data entry operator for each
district. Funds were also provided for the
infrastructure and identified activities to
be undertaken at the district and subdistrict
level. This was the first time that
cessation activities were expanded to be
made available at the district hospital
level. The establishment of District Tobacco
Control Cells also provided an opportunity
to integrate tobacco control with other
national health programmes and NRHM.
A sum of Rs 182 crore was approved for the
NTCP for the 11 th Five Year Plan. However
Rs 195 crore was actually budgeted from
2007 to 2012, out of which Rs 145 crore
was actually released. The programme