Jammu, Oct 23: Jammu and Kashmir has the highest number of female tobacco users in North India, a report, Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) – India, 2010, released recently says.
 Official sources said that the report has exposed the tall claims of the government and its agencies regarding anti-tobacco measures in the state. “The survey claims that Jammu and Kashmir has the highest prevalence of female tobacco users (10.3%) followed by Punjab (0.5%), Chandigarh (1.7%) and Delhi (3.7%)”, an official of the health department said.
 As per the state-wise break-up, Mizoram records the highest number of female tobacco users (62%) followed by Tripura (48%), Nagaland (43%), Manipur (41.8%), Chhattisgarh (41.6%) and Bihar (40.1%).
 The state also tops the list among the number of people who are exposed to Second-Hand Smoke (SHS). The exposure to SHS was highest 68 per cent in Jammu and Kashmir followed by Chandigarh (15 %), the reports says.
 The first Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) – India 2010 recently released has revealed that Tobacco is the single most common preventable cause of death in the world after road accidents causing nearly five million deaths annually across the globe.
 The central government has launched the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) in 2007-08 in Jammu and Kashmir, but the progress of this project is tardy, official sources said adding that except some advertisements and seminars the department has failed to implement the programme in its true sense.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 23 Oct 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 23 Oct 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 24 Oct 2010 00:00:00 IST