The first session āEmpowering Livesā was dedicated to listening to ground experiences of policy intervention efforts by youths on tobacco control and specifically engagement on tax increase on tobacco products. The speakers on the occasion included NYIN members Deepshikha from Haryana, Sarabjeet from Punjab, Permesh from Himachal Pradesh and Rinki Gupta from the NYIN national team.
We had inspiring talk from Shri Virender Singh Boken from Nehru Yuva Kendra Sanghanthan, Tobacco Control activist Shri Govind Tripathi and Dr Dilip Kumar, Vivekananda College NSS Shri Virender Mishra, IPS joined the webinar to support health and remind youth of their value. He also stated the average age of India is going to be 29 from this year onwards and hence, itās the responsibility of us the young spirits to think for the future of our youth- centric nation and be enthusiastic about change. He appreciated the continuous efforts of the Nada young India Network members to sensitize policymakers and bureaucrats for the wellbeing of coming generations.
Mr Govind Tripathi highlighted the importance of an increase in Tobacco taxes as a way forward to increase the revenue for our nation as well as decreasing the consumption. Mr Tripathi shared,ā According to World Health organization tobacco taxes should be marked around 75%, although in India tobacco taxes are around 28%ā hence it is important to look after our nationās wellbeing and protect the target consumers and passive smokers losing lives daily in every passing 6 seconds.
NSS volunteers and NYIN members from Vivekananda College, Delhi University, CBLU University, Bhiwani, Amity University, Noida, IIPH, Noida, Himachal Pradesh University, Panjab University, Manav Rachna University participated in the webinar in large numbers and had discussions with mentors on issues concerning a healthy India.
Ms Vanya Gupta, Ms Aditi, Ms Jhanvi and Ms Mitushi along with Ms Deepshikha were instrumental in hosting and coordinating the event along with NYIN Haryana coordinator Shri Akshay Sharma, the event organising secretary.ā¢ According to the World Health Organization, raising the price of tobacco products through tax increases is the most effective policy not only to reduce tobacco use but also to raise tax revenue.
ā¢ Higher tobacco prices that decrease affordability encourage cessation among users, prevent initiation among non-users, and reduce the quantity consumed among continuing users.
ā¢ Tobacco taxes are particularly effective among vulnerable populations such as youth and low-income smokers. A 10% price increase reduces tobacco consumption by 5% in low- and middle-income countries.
ā¢ Increasing Tobacco taxes is a WIN-WIN policy during COVID as it can address the economic shock from the COVID-19 pandemic and directly reduce COVID related co-morbidities.
For NYIN details please visit https://youthforwellbeing.org/nada-young-india-network-1
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