Sajidah Yousuf
Srinagar, Jul 12 : In a worrisome development, at least 32 percent of men and one percent women consume cigarettes, Bidis, Hookah and cigars in Jammu and Kashmir, reveals a survey conducted by Government of India (GoI).
The official figures of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) states, “Nearly one-third population of nearly 32 percent of men and one percent women of 15-49 years old use some form of tobacco.”
“Tobacco products mostly used by men include cigarette consumption of nearly 27 percent, Bidis of four percent, Hookah and cigars or pipe of two percent each,” it reads.
The survey further states that among the women and men, use of different forms of tobacco was slightly higher in rural areas with a total of 1.4 percent for women and 35 percent for men than in urban areas that have total consumption of 0.7 percent among the women and 24 percent among men.
“Over one-third of nearly 35 percent of men smoke 5 to 9 cigarettes during the 24 hours,” it reads.
It was also mentioned that “In Jammu and Kashmir, among adults of 15-49 years, 0.2 percent of women and 4 percent of men drink alcohol, and the consumption is slightly higher in the rural areas.”
The survey further said that in rural areas, at least 0.3 percent of women and 4 percent of men drink alcohol while in urban areas, 0.1 percent among women and 3 percent in men were found consuming alcohol.
“Most of the men who drink alcohol consume it once a week and the population consists of 43 percent or the persons who consume it less than once a week have a total percentage of 39 and the 19 percent population consume alcohol almost every day,” it reads—(KNO)
