Smokeless Tobacco Control Policy in India: A Comprehensive Analysis and Recommendations for Effective Implementation

Title: Smokeless Tobacco Control Policy in India: A Comprehensive Analysis and Recommendations for Effective Implementation
Author: Dr. Aman Rajput

ISBN: 978-93-7461-909-4

Tobacco use continues to be one of the most significant and preventable causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In India, however, the burden of tobacco-related disease is disproportionately driven by the widespread use of smokeless tobacco products. Deeply embedded within cultural traditions, social practices, and economic systems, smokeless tobacco poses a complex public health challenge that extends far beyond individual behavior and demands a comprehensive policy response.

Despite the existence of national legislation and India's early commitment to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), the prevalence of smokeless tobacco remains alarmingly high. The diversity of products, ease of accessibility, aggressive marketing, and socio cultural acceptance particularly among vulnerable populations such as youth, women, and economically disadvantaged groups have limited the effectiveness of existing control measures. This disconnects between policy intent and on-ground impact underscores the need for a focused, evidence-based analysis of smokeless tobacco control in the Indian context.

This book is an attempt to critically examine smokeless tobacco use in India through a multidimensional lens that integrates historical evolution, health consequences, economic and social determinants, global policy frameworks, and national regulatory mechanisms. Drawing upon published literature, global best practices, surveillance data, and policy documents, the work seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of why smokeless tobacco control has remained a persistent challenge and how it can be strengthened through informed policy action.

This book is intended for students, researchers, public health professionals, policymakers, and clinicians who seek a deeper understanding of smokeless tobacco as a public health and policy issue. Rather than offering prescriptive solutions alone, it encourages critical reflection on existing strategies and highlights the importance of context-sensitive, equity-driven, and evidence-informed interventions.

It is my hope that this work contributes meaningfully to the ongoing discourse on tobacco control in India and serves as a resource to inform policy development, program implementation, and future research.

Dr. Aman Rajput