59 per cent Bihar school students consume tobacco: says report

Around 59 per cent of the school students consume tobacco in various forms in Bihar, revealed a workshop organised in Patna to mark the first anniversary of law to prohibit smoking at public places.

Around 59 per cent of the school students and approximately 60 per cent of the population consumes tobacco in various forms in Bihar, this was revealed at a workshop organised in Patna to mark the first anniversary of law to prohibit smoking at public places.

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"As per the WHO report, 58.9 per cent students of class 8 to 10 standard consume tobacco in various forms in Bihar's school...Around 60 per cent of the population of Bihar consumes tobacco," Mahavir Das, Ex-Director-in-Chief Health Services, Bihar said at a function organised by Bihar Voluntary Health Association (BVHA).

About 5.4 million people die every year from tobacco related disease worldwide and this figure could touch 10 million by the end of 2030 and seven million will fall prey to such diseases in south Asia alone, Das said and added that 10 lakh people die in India from tobacco-related diseases.

If serious and concerted efforts like awareness campaign and other measures were not taken, the number of deaths caused from tobacco consumption could rise phenomenally and may touch 160 million by 2050.