Udupi: Superintendent of Police Dr Sanjeev Patil on Monday observed that labourers migrating to major cities in search of jobs fell victims to consumption of cigarettes and tobacco products.

He was speaking after inaugurating the programme an awareness programme on COTPA (The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act) at the Government Women’s PU college.
“We need to create awareness among labourers about ill effects of consumption of cigarettes and tobacco products and awareness initiatives should be held constantly,” the SP added.

The programme was organised as Udupi has been declared as COTPA compliance district.

“India witnesses maximum cases of oral cancer. Between 75,000 and 85,000 new patients are diagnosed for oral cancer every year. About 2,500 tobacco related deaths are reported in India daily. The non-communicable disease is increasing never like before, the officer regretted.

“Consumption of Gutka is primary reason for over 90 % oral cancer. Although Gutka is banned, it is still sold in the outlets,” Patil said.
The SP stated that after the implementation of COTPA, tobacco consumption across India had reduced from 34 % in 1980 to 23 % in 2012.
“The women are increasingly becoming addicted and there are there are tougher challenges to redress the issue,” he lamented.

Patil added that in the district, the number of cases registered under COTPA was 1,700 until November and it would touch 2,500 by December end, highest so far in the district.

He advised students to contact control room number 100 if they notice tobacco addiction among the children below the age of 18 years.
The CMC president Meenakshi Madhav Bannanje called upon children to develop good habits so that they could stay off from addictions.