English Quiz for RBI Grade B Phase I & BMSB PO 2016 – Set 11

Tobacco was first brought to
India by Portuguese merchants 400 years ago. Although there were already some
strains of locally-grown tobacco in India these were outclassed by the new imported varieties from Brazil. The trade
boomed and tobacco quickly established itself as the most important commodity
passing through Goa in the 17th century. Virtually every household in the
Portuguese colony took up the new fashion of smoking or chewing tobacco. Later
on the British introduced modern commercially-produced cigarettes. Today
Tobacco production is an important source of income for India’s farmers. While
alternative crops are available in terms of agronomic suitability, in general a move away from tobacco
production would result in reduced income and food security for a considerable
number of farmers. Manufacturing, particularly of bidi, is also a source of
employment and hence of income for a large number of people. Thus any attempts
to control the use of tobacco would need to take into account the economic
impact on these sectors. On the other hand it also exacerbates poverty, contributes to world hunger by diverting prime
land away from food production, damages the environment and reduces economic
productivity. To be effective, measures to control the central government
regulates advertising and promotion of cigarettes. The state governments
regulate, at most, advertising of other tobacco products. Advertising of
cigarettes is currently banned on television and commercial radio stations, and
in government owned premises. Cinema, press and outdoor advertising are
permitted, as is sponsorship of sports and other events and cultural
activities. The use of hoardings and billboards is, however, restricted in
certain areas and some sports grounds. Some state governments have started to
follow the policy of the central government. For instance, in 1997, the
Government of Delhi State imposed a ban on tobacco advertising. During 1997/98,
some other states followed in imposing such a ban, notably Himachal Pradesh and
Goa. The central government has considered imposing a total ban on advertising
of cigarettes under a new Tobacco Products (Regulation of Production, Supply and
Distribution) Bill. The code would have prohibited
the use of personal testimonials by those well known or those specifically
working with children. Advertisements were also to be banned in any media aimed
primarily at those under 18. However, the code had to be withdrawn in December,
1998, because of lack of cooperation from India’s domestic manufacturers. In
particular, the code came into conflict
with the promotion of tobacco products at sport venues and the use of prominent
celebrities for tobacco promotion. The Tobacco Institute of India is preparing
a new code for possible adoption by the tobacco manufacturers, modelled on
similar agreements between government and the tobacco industry in European
countries, such as the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. The new code
includes standardized health warnings, the publication of tar and nicotine
levels, and the introduction of age restrictions for tobacco purchase. Moreover
on May 31 every year, the world also observes World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) that
is promoted by the World Health Organization (WHO). The objective of observing
World No Tobacco Day is to reduce tobacco consumption which can lead to deadly
diseases like cancer and early death.