Tobacco and Public Health - TCSC Indonesia

Although tobacco control legislation in India is not very advanced at this time, there
has recently been a considerable use of litigation and of existing laws towards advancing
tobacco control.
Summary and conclusions
With an initial introduction into Indian royal courts by the Portuguese, tobacco use
spread quickly throughout society, taking on many indigenously developed forms to
suit local tastes. The British colonisers promoted tobacco as a cash crop and as an
industry. The independent Indian Government continued to support tobacco as a
revenue earner and employment generator. Among the middle classes, socially, smoking
is not well accepted especially by women and adolescents. The poor and uneducated
have little awareness of health effects of tobacco, especially smokeless tobacco. Tobacco
use, especially smoking is more prevalent among men than women, except in some small
regions. The youth have shown eagerness to experiment with new tobacco products like
mawa and gutkha alongside more traditional products. Young children are prone to take
up tobacco use, especially in rural areas and among the urban poor. Intervention studies
have demonstrated that it was possible to reduce tobacco use through education.
National legislative action to combat tobacco menace has remained weak so far,
although in recent years several states and judiciary seem to have taken a lead.
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