We want Government to act darely on Smoking

Health Ministry has yet again came out with so called heavy measures against Smoking as it expressed concerns over the harmful effects Tobacco has on the society. My basic question is, is it Government really concerned about this issue?

Government wants to increase the penalty from Rs. 200 to 1000 Rupees against an individual smoking in public places. It also plans to put a fine against institutions that allows smoking. The individuals smoking in their offices will now invite penalty for their institutions, say Newspaper reports.

All these things are fine. Smoking is hazardous for individual; hazardous for family; hazardous for country(!?). But a certain doubt stands out staggeringly:

CIGARETTE AVAILABILITY IN PUBLIC IS LEGAL, BUT CIGARETTE SMOKING IS ILLEGAL.

Quiet a few drugs are banned on the basis of the fact that they are harmful. So, why not put a ban on smoking instead of putting a penalty? The open secret is, Government earns a large chunk of income generated by the business of Tobacco. Government wants profit at the cost of public health. But, it says that it is concerned on health of the public.

I am a smoker. I started smoking because it was available easily in the public. If Cigarettes were not available, I Couldn't have started smoking.

I haven't yet tried prostitutes, because the flesh business is not running openly. If the prostitution is legal and open, then I would easily fall for it. Here 'I' represent a major part of this society. There are minorities who have tendency to do misadventures. They go on hunting for the things which are not easily available, say for example, the prostitutes. Now, I think my logic is clear.

Lets hope Government goes for a complete ban on Cigarette. Let it not worry about the families who are dependent on the business of Tobacco. We can create other employment opportunities for those families. Let the Government put some extra taxes to the public in compensation for the probable losses that incur when Tobacco is banned.

Will the Government act?