Health Ministry Data Places UT in Lower-Middle Bracket; Experts Warn of Persistent Health Risks Despite Lower Prevalence
Suhail Khan
Srinagar, Dec 17: The union territory of Jammu and Kashmir has a lower prevalence of tobacco use than the national average, positioning it in the lower-middle bracket among Indian states and union territories, according to government data presented in Parliament.
In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare stated that 23.7 per cent of adults aged 15 and above in Jammu and Kashmir consume tobacco in some form. This figure is notably below the national average of 28.6 per cent recorded in the Global Adult Tobacco Survey-2 (2016–17).
The data shows Jammu and Kashmir’s prevalence is well below high-burden states in the northeast and east, such as Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, Odisha, Assam and Jharkhand, where usage ranges from 38 per cent to 64.5 per cent. It also fares better than several large northern and central states, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal. However, its rate remains higher than that of Kerala, Punjab, Goa, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi, placing the union territory broadly in the national lower-middle range.
The information was shared by Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav in response to a query from MP Swati Maliwal on tobacco consumption and control measures.
Nationally, smokeless tobacco products dominate, with khaini used by 11.2 per cent of adults, followed by gutkha (6.8 per cent) and betel quid with tobacco (5.8 per cent). Cigarettes account for about 4 per cent of adult use, while bidis represent 7.7 per cent.
Tobacco control at the grassroots level is implemented by states and UTs under the National Tobacco Control Programme, funded through the National Health Mission’s non-communicable disease flexipool. Total national allocations for tobacco and NCD interventions rose from ₹66.03 crore in 2020–21 to a peak of ₹128.26 crore in 2023–24, before settling at ₹108.76 crore in 2024–25. For union territories including Jammu and Kashmir, the Centre bears 100 per cent of programme costs.
Enforcement continues under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003, and the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019. A statutory ban on selling tobacco products within 100 metres of educational institutions is being implemented nationwide. Reported violations under this provision peaked at over 92,000 in 2022–23 before declining to around 44,000 in 2024–25, suggesting improved compliance after stricter monitoring.
India currently has over 2,000 Tobacco Cessation Centres at the district level, supported by the National Tobacco Control Programme, the National Medical Commission and the National Dental Commission. These are supplemented by a national toll-free quitline operating in 16 languages.
On the fiscal side, tobacco remains a significant revenue source. Under the GST regime, suppliers of tobacco products paid ₹65,730 crore in GST and compensation cess in 2022–23, a sharp rise from ₹37,491 crore in 2017–18. The government has indicated that tobacco taxation remains both a key deterrent and a revenue instrument alongside public health measures.
Meanwhile, Eminent Kashmiri pulmonologist Dr. Naveed Nazir Shah said that smoking is a leading cause of respiratory diseases, including cancer, heart disease, stroke, COPD and diabetes.
“Smoking impacts nearly every organ—respiratory, cardiovascular and central nervous systems—along with external effects on hair, skin and nails. It can also lead to mental health issues and breathing difficulties,” Dr. Shah stated.
He emphasized preventive education, particularly for children, and urged parents and communities to steer youth away from addiction. Dr. Shah also advised against self-medication and recommended that vulnerable groups, including the elderly and children, take extra precautions during winter, maintain hydration and follow prescribed treatments.
According to global health data, tobacco causes over 7 million deaths annually worldwide. A study by Johns Hopkins Medicine notes that smokers die, on average, 10 years earlier than non-smokers.
The risks extend to secondhand smoke, which is responsible for over 7,000 lung cancer deaths annually in non-smokers in the U.S., along with 41,000 deaths from other conditions. Exposure in children increases risks of asthma, ear infections and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Notably, The union territory of Jammu and Kashmir continues its tobacco control efforts, how’ver the dual challenge remains curbing a major public health threat while managing the economic implications of a deeply entrenched commodity.
