GoI taking various steps to restrict tobacco production

New Delhi, May 2014

Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh are main tobacco producing States in India. Central Government is taking various steps to restrict the production of tobacco, said Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in a question raised by Rajya Sabha MP Shri Parimal Nathwani.

Shri Nathwani expressed concern over the production of tobacco in the country as it is harmful to the health of people. In his question in Rajya Sabha Shri Nathwani sought information regarding the steps being taken by the government for limiting the tobacco production.

In her reply Minister of State Nirmala Sitharaman said that tobacco is being cultivated in relatively very small area. Area under cultivation for food-crops and vegetables is far greater than that for tobacco. She added that the government is taking various steps to restrict the production of tobacco, which include limiting its area of cultivation and quantity of production, strict ban over its usage, heavy fine upon the breaking of rules and barring the registration of new entrants, among others.

An independent tobacco board of the Government of India also gives encouragement to the alternative crops and crop patterns, said the Minister of state.