Support PM Modi in prohibiting deadly e-cigarettes in India

Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi reiterated the intent of his Government to ban Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) or Electronic Cigarettes or Vaping  at the recent United Nations General Assembly.

Following this, on Sept.18, 2019, the Ministry of Health has made public a Bill (titled: The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Bill, 2019) for comments from public before Nov.8, 2019. 

It is the duty of non-smokers and all those concerned with public health to support our Prime Minister Modi in this noble task of prohibiting  the use of ENDS that is catching up with the youths and even school children world-wide like wildfire. 

 As we are aware, tobacco in any form is harmful to the health of the people who smoke and also to those who are inhaling second hand smoke. 

Since there is nothing good about tobacco in any form and it is now conclusively proven that electronic cigarettes (and other new technologies, collectively called electronic nicotine delivery devices or ENDS) are deleterious for health and through flavours and design induce youth and children to this new form of addiction.

 In recent years India has witnessed an unbridled growth of trade and use of ENDS. Increasingly media reports have shown that the problem of ENDS use in schools and among under-aged users was found to be high. There is ample evidence on use of ENDS resulting in dual use and cause of substance use. There is also an explosion of new cases that are being reported from across the globe from the harms of using ENDS and the like devices.

Therefore, I appeal for support to PM and Government of India in introducing the ENDS Prohibition Bill with the following short email to: [email protected] before 8th November:

“I support Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and his Government in introducing  the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Ordinance/Bill, 2019. In addition, I urge the Government of India to also ban all tobacco products, consumption of which are detrimental to the health of the people.  I also appeal to Government of India to help tobacco farmers to take up alternate crops farming for ensuring food security of the nation instead of growing the poisonous weed like tobacco.”

—Vasanthkumar Mysoremath, Hon.Advisor, Cancer Patients Aid Association & Resource Person, District Tobacco Control Cell, Mysuru