Smoking ban failed in Goa: Tobacco NGO

The National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE)-India has pointed out that the Goa government had failed to enforce the ban on smoking and spitting at public places in the state.

"Considering the resources at the disposal of enforcement authorities to implement gutkha ban, I would say they have done a very satisfactory work. But as far as smoking and spitting in public places is concerned, there has been no enforcement for last one year," said Shekhar Salkar. general secretary, NOTE-India.

Stating that students in the state were still susceptible to tobacco-related problems, Salkar quoted the sample survey conducted in 2000, as part of a global youth tobacco survey, which had found that about five per cent of school children were consuming tobacco in some form.

"In various states, percentage of children using tobacco ranged from four to 63 per cent. The rates were the highest in the North-Eastern states," Salkar said.

Salkar, a practising oncologist, said that on an average 1,500 new cancer cases surfaced in Goa every year.

"Of these, about one third are that of oral cancer and most of the oral cases are seen in younger persons mostly addicted to gutkha or other tobacco chewing products," he added.

He said nearly 80 per cent of cancer cases at Goa hospitals, could be treated in the state itself.

"The remaining cases, which need sophisticated treatment, are referred to other centres" he said.