Tarun Karthick
Campbell Bay, 12 November 2024
A recent Dental Screening and Awareness Camp held at Govt. Senior Secondary School in Oralkatcha, Baratang, has highlighted a growing concern: tobacco use is alarmingly prevalent among minors in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Conducted under the National Oral Health Programme (NOHP), the camp screened 258 students for oral health issues and substance abuse. Shockingly, 19 students were identified as regular users of tobacco, with two diagnosed with pouch keratosis—a precancerous condition linked to smokeless tobacco use.
Pouch keratosis, or tobacco pouch keratosis, results from chronic irritation caused by smokeless tobacco, such as chewing tobacco or snuff. This condition leads to white patches on the inner cheek or between the teeth and gums, placing these minors at heightened risk for oral cancer in the future.
The findings of this screening highlight a deeper problem: the widespread use of tobacco among young people in the Islands. In urban and semi-urban areas, cigarette smoking is common among minors, while in rural areas, many youths habitually chew tobacco-laden paan. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 2019-2021, tobacco use rates in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands rank among the highest in India, with 59% of men and 19% of women over age 15 regularly using tobacco products.
Despite these figures, enforcement of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) of 2003 remains weak. Although authorities often claim to conduct checks on tobacco sales near schools, violations persist. COTPA prohibits the sale of tobacco within 100 yards of educational institutions, yet shops in close proximity to schools continue to openly sell these products. From Diglipur in North Andaman to Campbell Bay in Nicobar, enforcement appears minimal.
In the capital, Sri Vijaya Puram, hundreds of shops operate within the restricted zones, selling tobacco freely and often to minors—an additional violation of COTPA, which strictly forbids the sale of tobacco to individuals under 18. Minors in Sri Vijaya Puram can reportedly buy cigarettes and tobacco products without any restriction and hesitation, while in rural areas, tobacco-laced paan remains widely accessible to young users.
The lack of rigorous implementation of COTPA across the Islands poses serious public health risks, potentially paving the way for a “dark future”. If tobacco use among youth continues unchecked, the long-term consequences will be severe: increased health issues, the spread of tobacco-related diseases, and an excessive burden on the local healthcare system.
It is imperative for the concerned authorities to take immediate and robust steps to curb this growing problem. A concerted effort to enforce COTPA provisions can not only protect the health of young residents but also ensure a healthier future for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.