The recent rise of smoking among children is a sign of a recent public health threat.
According to the study by the Global Tobacco Atlas, consumption of tobacco claims 17,887 lives in the country every week. However, this is less than average number of deaths caused by smoking tobacco in medium Human Development Index (HDI) countries.
The report prepared by American Cancer Society (ACS) and US-based Vital Strategies claimed that the economic cost of smoking in India is Rs 18,18,691 million. This includes direct cost related to healthcare and indirect cost involving lost productivity due to early mortality and morbidity.
Although fewer children smoke cigarette in India than on average in medium HDI nations, more than 4,29,500 boys and 1,95,500 girls in this country smoke cigarette each day, the report said and called for action from policymakers.
More than 9,03,42,900 men and 1,34,66,600 women smoke cigarettes every day, while 17,10,94,600 people use smokeless tobacco a sign of dire threat to public health, it said.