DIMAPUR— In a case of brazen disregard for the rule of law, shopkeepers in Dimapur were caught openly selling tobacco products to minors aged below 18 years and within 100-meter radius of educational institution, which India prohibits.
On the eve of World No Tobacco Day, Eastern Mirror sent minors in their school uniforms to buy tobacco products including cigarettes at several locations in Dimapur and Kohima, under the close watch of our reporters, to find out if shopkeepers in the state’s two major urban settlements adhere to tobacco sale regulations. (The findings in Kohima were published in May 31 issue of this newspaper).
When a 12-year-old boy in his school uniform was sent to nine paan shops in Dimapur to buy cigarettes as well as chewable tobacco products, only one shop refused to sell the prohibited items to the minor. The student could easily buy tobacco items from remaining eight, while one of the shops is within the 100-meter radius of a school.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]One tobacco seller at Duncan Bosti revealed that a significant number of young people, particularly those interested in smokeless tobacco items like shikkar, signature and talab, were his regular customers.
When asked why he sold to minors, he replied that ‘tobacco is considered as edible product’ and it is not just boys, but girls too consume it.
He, however, said that sale of tobacco is not profitable any more as it is available everywhere, including within the state stadium premises.
Meanwhile, he acknowledged that tobacco consumption is detrimental to health. He quit all tobacco products after suffering from a severe stomach issue.
Another shopkeeper, whose shop is situated within the 100-meter radius of a school in Dimapur, admitted to selling tobacco to the Class 6 student. However, he claimed that he refrains from selling such items to students during the school hours.
He admitted that selling tobacco products to the minor was a mistake.
Owner of another shop at sub-jail junction Dimapur, who sold cigarette to the boy, said: “Even if I do not sell, some other shop will”, when asked why he sold such items to a minor. He added that they have a policy of not selling tobacco to minors, particularly those in school uniforms, but difficult to turn down college students though they are below 18 years.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]He added that the trend of tobacco consumption has undergone a shift with people taking more smokeless tobacco like Shikkar, talab etc. than betel nuts, unlike in the past, and an increasing number of girls consuming such products.
A paan shop owner at Marwari Patti said admitted that it is wrong to sell tobacco to minors but he did not follow it strictly, adding that he would stop selling tobacco products to minors.
Another shop owner, who a shop opposite to a petrol pump at Dr. Hokishe Sema road, said that she sold tobacco items to the boy assuming that people working at the gas station had asked sent him to buy the items.
However, Mughul, who owns a paan shop at Marwari Patti, was the only person refused to sell tobacco items to the 12-year-old student. He said that he has taken a firm stand against selling tobacco to minors.
‘I don’t sell tobacco products to minors as I genuinely have concern about the well-being of children and understands the potential consequences of tobacco use at such a young age,’ he said, adding that the owner of the building had also told him not to sell tobacco to the under aged.
Mughul also shared that he used to consume paan in the past but stopped after being diagnosed with tuberculosis, and even decided to stop selling it in his shop as it would tempt him to consume again. He has since recovered from the disease.
The National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) conducted in 2019-2020 reported that the prevalence of tobacco use among men aged 15 years and above in Nagaland stands at 48.4%, while among women in the same age group, it stands at 13.7%. These figures indicate a notable improvement in comparison to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS 2) conducted in India during 2016-17.
The GATS 2 reported that 54.1% of men aged 15 years and above used any kind of tobacco, while the prevalence among women in the same age group was 31.7%. This suggests a significant reduction in tobacco use, reflecting positive progress in addressing this issue.