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Combined Discussion On Statutory Resolution Regarding Disapproval Of ... on 26 November, 2019

Seventeenth Loksabha > Title: Combined discussion on Statutory Resolution regarding Disapproval of Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale,  Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Ordinance, 2019 and Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage And Advertisement) Bill, 2019 (Discussion not concluded).

 

माननीय अध्यक्ष:मद संख्या 8 और 9 एक साथ ली जाती है ।

SHRI ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY (BAHARAMPUR): Sir, I beg to move:

“That this House disapproves of the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Ordinance, 2019 (No.14 of 2019) promulgated by the President on 18 September, 2019.”   THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE, MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES (DR. HARSH VARDHAN): Sir, I beg to move:

“That the Bill to prohibit the production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement of electronic cigarettes in the interest of public health to protect the people from harm and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto, be taken into consideration.” माननीयअध्यक्ष: प्रस्ताव प्रस्तुत हुए:

“कि यह सभा राष्ट्रपति द्वारा 18 सितम्बर, 2019 को प्रख्यापित इलेक्ट्रॉनिक सिगरेट (उत्पादन, विनिर्माण, आयात, निर्यात, परिवहन, विक्रय, वितरण, भंडारण और विज्ञापन)  प्रतिषेध अध्यादेश, 2019 (2019 का संख्यांक 14) का निरनुमोदन करती है ।” “कि जनता की अपहानि से सुरक्षा करने के लिए जन स्वास्थ्य के हित में इलेक्ट्रॉनिक सिगरेट का उत्पादन,विनिर्माण,आयात, निर्यात,परिवहन, विक्रय,वितरण, भंडारण और विज्ञापन का प्रतिषेध करने के लिए उससे संबंधित या उसके आनुषंगिक विषयों का उपबंध करने के लिए विधेयक पर विचार किया जाए ।”   SHRI ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY : Sir, to start with I like to state that I do not have any fundamental objection to the contents of the legislative documents. But the way, the Government has been bringing the legislation after the promulgation of Ordinance certainly draws criticism and opposition from our end because the Government has been playing footsie with the Ordinance route.

       I would like to remind the hon. Minister of what the former Speaker, Mavlankar said on 17th July in the year 1954: “The issue of an Ordinance is undemocratic and cannot be justified except in cases of extreme urgency or emergency.” The Session was about to be commenced and it was known to you when you went for the promulgation. When you went for the promulgation of the Ordinance, at that time you were aware that the Parliament Session would immediately commence in the month of November but your Government has brought the Ordinance in the month of September.

       It is ridiculous to note that you are talking of e-cigarettes in the Ordinance while your Minister of State for Health has claimed in Parliament that only three per cent of the population is aware of this, that is, that an estimated 0.02 per cent of the population uses the e-cigarettes. That means, insofar as e-cigarette is concerned, only three per cent of the Indian population is aware of the subject, ‘e-cigarette’. Only  0.02 per cent of the  population uses the e-cigarettes.

       However, you thought it prudent to invoke the Ordinance path which intrigues me about what had triggered the Ordinance is really undefined and unclear in your legislation.

       Sir, in the Statement of Objects and Reasons of the Bill, it has been stated that:

“In view of the above recommendations and in the overall interest of public health as envisaged under article 47 of the Constitution, it was expedient that the e-cigarettes and the like devices should be prohibited.”        I am not questioning the intention of the Government in so far as prohibition of e-cigarette is concerned.

       You have also cited Article 47. What does Article 47 elaborate? It says:

“The State shall regard the raising of the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and the improvement of public health as among its primary duties.”        So, you thought it wise that e-cigarette smoking is also one of the ingredients of public health which I think may have driven you for invocation of the Ordinance route.

       I would also like to cite an example so far as malnutrition is concerned. About 93 per cent of our children are suffering from malnutrition. It has been stated by no fewer than your Minister, Shrimati Irani ji.

       In so far as Global Hunger Index is concerned, in the year 2014, India was ranked 55 in the world. But now we have been relegated to 102. That means half of the population hiked from the pangs of hunger have been again relegated to the ambit of hunger.

       So, when you are citing Article 47 of the Constitution, I would suggest that you should also consider the other aspects which have been infecting the entire country.

       E-cigarettes are electronic devices that heat a substance, with or without nicotine and flavours to create an aerosol for inhalation which a user can inhale like the action of smoking.

       In your argument, you yourself stated here that it is not yet established that e-cigarettes are safer than traditional cigarettes and the harmful effects of e-cigarette use are now emerging across the world. Available scientific evidence indicate that use of e-cigarettes is hazardous for an active as well as passive smoker. E-cigarettes solutions and emissions are known to contain harmful chemicals which are hazardous and some of which are considered to be toxicant.

       While arguing this, you yourself have failed to assert your argument as to when you are going to prohibit the e-cigarettes. You said that it is not yet established. It means that there is a scope for further scientific research which could establish views contrary to yours as it has been admitted by you in your statement.

       Sir, When the conventional cigarettes are available in each and every corner of our country and are being sold with impunity, then why is the Government only concentrating on e-cigarettes? I am not finding fault with you for identifying e-cigarettes because I think that they are also injurious to health. But here it appears to me that you are bringing a targeted legislation only to prohibit e-cigarette. 

       Why are conventional and traditional cigarettes being sold with impunity? These are some sort of contradictions which are befuddling me.

       In our country, where we are now, in so far as cigarette smoking or tobacco consumption is concerned, according to a Nationally Representative Case - Control Study of Smoking and Death in India, ‘tobacco will be responsible for one in five of all male deaths and one in twenty of all female deaths in the country by 2010. This means approximately one million, now 1.2 million Indians would die annually from smoking by 2010.’ According to the Indian Heart Association, India accounts for 83 per cent of the world’s heart disease burden, despite having less than 20 per cent of the world’s population. The IHA has identified reduction in smoking as a significant target of cardiovascular health prevention efforts.  That is where lies my contention. When we are losing one million now 1.2 million Indians every year only due to consumption of tobacco, you are not trying anything to stem the rot out of tobacco consumption. On the other hand, you are going to prohibit e- cigarettes. Why is this kind of attitude being nursed by this Government? Could you say that this is a level playing field?

       I am referring to the Supreme Court of India’s judgement delivered on 02 November, 2001 in Murli S. Deora versus Union of India where the Supreme Court observed:

“Tobacco is universally regarded as one of the major public health hazards and is responsible directly or indirectly for an estimated eight lakh deaths annually in the country. It has also been found that treatment of tobacco related diseases and the loss of productivity caused therein cost the country almost Rs. 13,500 crore annually, which more than offsets all the benefits accruing in the form of revenue and employment generated by tobacco industry.” These are the appalling episodes emerging across the country in so far tobacco is concerned. It has already assumed a menacing proportion, but you prefer to be reticent on the consumption of tobacco. On the other hand, you are deploying your entire legislative muscle only to prohibit consumption of e- cigarette. Here lies my question.

       I am not in favour either of e- cigarette or conventional cigarette, but your attitude should be robust and comprehensive while dealing with smoking, which, you think, is injurious to health.

Every third adult in rural areas and every fifth adult in urban areas of India uses tobacco in some form or the other. It has been revealed in the Global Adult Tobacco Survey-2 released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The survey revealed that 28.6 per cent of adults aged 15 and above in India currently use tobacco in some form. Among the adults, 24.9 per cent are daily tobacco-users and 3.7 per cent are occasional users. The most commonly used tobacco product in India is khaini, a tobacco-lime mixture, that is used by every ninth adult. The next most commonly used tobacco product is beedi, smoked by 7.7 per cent of adult Indians. Gutkha, a tobacco, lime and areca nut mixture, ranks third at 6.8 per cent consumption and betel quid with tobacco ranks fourth at 5.8 per cent.

       That means the prevalence of tobacco use among men is 42.4 per cent, while among women it is 14.2 per cent. It is according to the Survey. The Survey Report II shows that every tenth adult in India smokes tobacco. The Survey also shows that second hand smoke is gradually becoming a major cause of concern in India. More than one-third, that means 35 per cent of non-smokers, were exposed to second hand smoke at home in urban areas and 25 per cent of non-smokers in rural areas.

       Tobacco use is the leading cause of premature non-communicable diseases, and associated mortality and morbidity. It is a growing public health challenge. While many people are aware that tobacco use increases the risk of cancer, there are alarming gaps in knowledge of the cardiovascular risk of tobacco use. According to World Health Organisation, more than half of adult Indians did not know that smoking can cause stroke. Tobacco epidemic is a major public health challenge in India and flavoured smokeless tobacco users in India is very high. Concerted strong political commitment and targeted action over the last decade have contributed to commendable achievement in pushing back the tobacco epidemic. We must certainly agree that something has been done. But it has not yielded the desired results.

       Survey II was carried out in many States of India and in the two Union Territories of Chandigarh and Puducherry from August 2016 to February 2017. The analysis is based on the 74,000 complete interviews. So, this is the menacing proportion of the problem that we are observing insofar as tobacco consumption is concerned. So, we should not differentiate between the conventional cigarette and the e-cigarette.  We should completely stop all kinds of tobacco consumption that are prevalent in our country.

       You said that scientists, doctors, etc. are recommending ban on e-cigarettes. But there is some confusion still over the e-cigarette issue.  You are certainly aware of it. However, I would like to draw your attention to it. In the year 2015, the global market for e-cigarette industry was estimated to be 10 billion US dollars. I know that India is a signatory to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control which was introduced in response to the globalisation of tobacco epidemic. In 2014, the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control appealed to all its signatories to consider prohibiting or regulating the use of e-cigarettes in their respective countries. This was suggested due to emerging evidence of the negative health of e-cigarettes which could result in lung cancer.

       Again in the Global Audit Survey Report 2016-17, it was found that approximately three per cent of the adults in India were aware of e-cigarettes and there were 0.02 per cent e-cigarette users. In August 2018, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued an advisory to all the States recommending that they should not approve any new e-cigarettes and restrict the use of advertisement for the existing e-cigarettes. Based on the advisory, 16 States, including Delhi, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, have since banned e-cigarettes. In May 2019, the Indian Council of Medical Research recommended complete prohibition of e-cigarettes. That means, as per your advisory, most of the States have started banning or prohibiting e-cigarettes. When that is the case, why did you feel it necessary to promulgate an Ordinance in this regard? The Ordinance-addicted Government could not convey a positive message to the common people. It appears that this Government is Ordinance-addicted Government. Without any rhyme or reason or without any lucid argument, you are unnecessarily promulgating Ordinances. I think this was not at all necessary.

       You are using canon to kill a little mosquito. The following queries are simply to get myself enriched by you. As per the Public Health England and the United States National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, e-cigarettes are substantially less harmful than traditional cigarettes. You are a doctor. You shall be the best person to deal with this subject. I am a layman.

       The argument of Public Health England and the United States National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine is that e-cigarettes are substantially less harmful than traditional cigarettes. They lack      the tar and carbon monoxide of traditional cigarettes because combustion, which produces significant toxic substances, does not occur. Therefore, substituting e-cigarettes for traditional cigarettes may reduce the smokers’ exposure to numerous toxic substances and carcinogens.

A clinical trial in the United Kingdom found that people who used e-cigarettes to quit smoking were twice as likely to succeed as people who used other nicotine replacement products such as patches or gum. I think patches and gum have not been prohibited by you. However, there is still insufficient evidence to quantify the health risks and long-term effects of e-cigarettes. So, these are the issues on which many people like me are confused. So, I am raising this before you for getting myself more enlightened.

At present 30 countries including Brazil, Mexico and Thailand have banned the manufacture, trade and advertisement of e-cigarettes. In addition to this, Singapore and Cambodia have explicitly banned the possession of e-cigarettes. On the other hand, over 98 countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada and France have decided against banning e-cigarettes. These countries are also advanced and developed countries. They have not decided against banning e-cigarettes and they were recommended by the WHO to take the following measures. What are those following measures -- (i) prevent the initiation of e-cigarettes by non-smokers, and youth, (ii) minimise the potential health risks to e-cigarettes users and non-users from exposure, (iii) prevent unproven health claims about e-cigarettes, and (iv) protect tobacco control activities from all commercial interests related to e-cigarettes/ML.

To implement these measures, countries have used a range of regulatory mechanisms such as classifying e-cigarettes as tobacco products, prohibiting sale to minors, prohibiting use in public places, and regulating the amount of nicotine in e-cigarettes. For instance, the European Union’s Tobacco Products Directive requires the manufacturers of e-cigarettes to restrict the nicotine concentration at 20 milligrams/ML.

Further, health warnings for e-cigarettes advising consumers that they contain nicotine should not be used by non-smokers, are mandatory. Similarly, in the United Kingdom, packaging must include a list of ingredients contained in the product, information on the product’s nicotine content, and information on adverse effects, addictiveness and toxicity. In the United States, several States such as New York, Michigan and Massachusetts have prohibited flavoured e-cigarettes.

That means, 80 countries still are not agreeing on prohibition of e-cigarettes. They are resorting to various kind of regulations. That is why, my question is, why are you rushing for banning without resorting to other measure also? Those countries are also the developed countries.

This is simply to know this from a competent person like you. Why those countries still are not prohibiting e-cigarettes and, on the other hand, we are prohibiting e-cigarettes, while the percentage of e-cigarettes smokers in India is very much insignificant?

My request to the hon. Minister is that you should elaborate all these issues, so far as e-cigarettes and conventional and traditional cigarettes are concerned because both the issues are to be thoroughly discussed as it is related not only to our health but also to the health of our future generation. We need that special care should be afforded to our future generation. All of us know that smoking is injurious to health. However, smoking is continuing.

Now, e-cigarette has come into the market as a new entrant, but traditional cigarettes are flourishing everywhere. I hail from West Bengal where in the District of Murshidabad most of the people are addicted to smoking, which is recognised as one of the largest manufacturers ofbeedi. So, I know about the ill-effects of smoking, and I think that the Government should be more careful and serious in dealing with this menacing and appalling situation due to tobacco-consumption in our country. Thank you, Sir.

माननीयअध्यक्ष : सभा की सहमति हो तो सभा का समय विधेयक समाप्ति तक बढ़ाया जाए ।

अनेक माननीय सदस्य : हां महोदय, ठीक है ।

माननीयअध्यक्ष : श्री वरुण गांधी जी ।

 

SHRI  FEROZE VARUN GANDHI (PILIBHIT) : Sir, I rise to support the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Bill, 2019.

       E-cigarettes or ENDS (Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems) are electronic devices that heat a substance, which contains nicotine to create vapour for inhalation. The previous speaker said that the quantities of nicotine in this are not very well decided. The Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health states that treated nicotine in an e-cigarette is 1.6 times that of a conventional combustible cigarette. There is a very strong industrial and commercial lobby, which has sought to propel the myth and lie that e-cigarettes are far less harmful than combustible tobacco cigarettes. The fact remains that treated nicotine, which is present in these devices, is a carcinogen that is a tumour-promoter; it is responsible for neuro-degeneration; and it is responsible for anxiety, behavioural and breathing disorders. So, I am unsure as to how that claim of being less dangerous can be made.

17.52 hrs                    (Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab in the Chair)        We must look at three factors when we are looking at the net public health effect of e-cigarettes. One, their effect on youth; two, their effect on adult cessation of combustible tobacco products; and three, their inherent toxicity. The science behind it is what I want to get to. One of the greatest problems with the science behind e-cigarettes is that it is highly questionable at best in a certain way. Nearly 94 per cent of global e-cigarette devices come from China. These products have no nicotine-product standardization. It is very important that we note this point.

       We have absolutely no accountable chemical composition of any of these devices including Juul Labs nor Philip Morris, none of them. The unregulated sale that happens in India via the internet is 99.3 per cent, which means that we are dealing with a product of which we know not the quality, not the purity, not the provenance, and which sells purely through the grey market on the internet. There is no licensing of the companies that sell e-cigarettes in India, and these are unmonitored online sales.

       What is the impact of e-cigarettes on youth? It is potentially disastrous. Due to a lie that these cigarettes are safe, they will become a giant gateway drug for children as young as 12 to use. The average age of a conventional combustible tobacco smoker in America is 38 years old. The average age of an e-cigarette user is 17 years old. This is a very frightening thing with 70 per cent of e-cigarette users saying that they were 15 years old when they first tried an e-cigarette. At these ages, the long-term consequences include brain development getting stalled. The New England Journal of Medicine, which is a very famous and recognised journal, has shown that of those who smoked e-cigarettes rather than those who did not smoke, the percentage of learning disorders was up by 28 per cent. There is absolutely no evidence to show that e-cigarette cause a cessation of smoking normal cigarettes.

       According to the Philip Morris Industry-backed Study, smoking in America has risen every single year, year on year, since 1954. Right. E-cigarettes, which were introduced in America since 2004, have also increased year on year. So, if both have increased year on year, then, how is the advent of one leading to the demolition of the other?

The Study by the Royal College of Physicians in London shows that 70 per cent of e-cigarette smokers smoke conventional cigarette simultaneously, which means that it really makes very little difference in terms of replacing one.

The Indian Council of Medical Research has put out a very succinct and very important study, where they have said that the introduction of an unproven product in the context of a declining trend in tobacco consumption and multiple measures being taken to achieve tobacco control would be highly questionable. What is the reason for the timing of this ban? I heard hon. Members who spoke before me say, what is the reason for the timing of the ban? I tell you the reason. The reason for the timing of this ban is that prevention is better than cure. Yes, we have 120 million smokers in India. That is true. The point is, do we want to introduce another gateway drug for children? Sir, JUUL Labs and Philip Morris, which have not entered India – Dr. Sahib knows this very well  - they have earmarked Rs.250 crore, and Rs.550 crore from 2020 to 2022 to establish India as their greatest frontier market for e-cigarette  distribution. So, this is the time to get into this market and stop this incoming menace. 

Yes, it is true that 16 States have banned this product and I read the strong circular of the Central Drug Standards Control Organisation calling for a blanket ban. I do not want to get into other aspects of the Bill like imprisonment, etc. What  are the other approaches of other countries towards e-cigarettes? The WHO Framework for Tobacco invited in 2014 all its signatories to ban and restrict e-cigarettes. Singapore, Brazil, Philippines, etc. have banned e-cigarettes. Over 30 countries like Mexico and Thailand have practically banned; with 98 other countries, putting a strong regulatory approach, restricting their supply, advertising, etc. I want to get into one or two countries that have specifically done. The UK has opposed the ban on e-cigarette but I  read the science on this. I am not just used to speaking like this. Sir, the Royal College of Physicians  Report says, and I want to quote this, “nicotine is not in itself a hazardous drug, it is unlikely that nicotine contributes to the morbidity caused by smoking.” This is an extremely questionable scientific premise. This is saying that nicotine is not bad for you. I want to know whether the tobacco lobby had paid for this or not. It is crazy to me. I want to know that if countries believe that nicotine consumption is not a risk, should we allow our Indian populace to be a guinea pig in this experiment till they determine whether nicotine is not bad for you?

Sir, in the same Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Report, it states, the lab experiments have shown – this is very important – that e-cigarettes contain twice the amount of heavy metal and chemicals namely diacetyl than normal cigarettes and double the number of harmful effluents. This is the most significant work that is done in this field. The same report by the UK College of Royal Physicians says that e-cigarettes help people who cannot quit. But if you read the full study, it contradicts itself because in the first paragraph, it says this; and in the fourth paragraph, the same study states that out of 900,000 people who attempted to stop smoking and switched to an e-cigarette, 780,000 returned to full-scale conventional smoking in a year. Really it is not any kind of conventional substitute.

18.00 hrs        Sir, I want to make a psychological argument. Almost everybody in the world knows about the dangers of smoking more or less. My question is, just by the introduction of ‘x’ product which has ‘x’ amount of marketing and questionable science, will it lead to a person, who has taken a heavy-duty psychological decision to be a proper smoker, to give it up? I mean this is something I would really like to ask the House.

       The hon. Member who spoke before me mentioned that the European Union has issued a Tobacco Products Directive, it is true, which states that maximum nicotine concentrations should be there. But what he omitted to state is that not a single country in the world has been able to put in place a maximum nicotine concentration. You can put on paper whatever you like but if it is not there in the actual device, what is the use of it? No country in the world has been able to put a maximum nicotine concentration, none. My contention is that nobody has been able to put this in earnest and as 90 per cent of e-cigarettes sales are via the internet and semi-hidden platforms, how will you enforce it even if you put it into law?

       The second thing is that, in Philippines where they banned it, why did they ban it? It was because a mysterious lung injury killed 47 people. In America, in the State of Virginia, which is the largest tobacco grower in America, you also know that, people went to one court and said that across all the fifty States, over 2000 people who have smoked e-cigarettes for two years under the age of 21 have been seriously afflicted by a mysterious illness which Columbia Presbyterian had not been able to ascertain as a hospital.

       Sir, my question is that, in a country like India, medical data is neither centrally procured, nor processed, nor documented, nor analysed. In a country like America, if they could not tell you about the dangers of a mysterious illness, in a country like India, these deaths will not and cannot be traced. Can we expose our populous to the same illness?

The Health and Family Welfare Ministry of Brazil has put a health study which shows that tobacco substitution products act as a catalyst for people under the age of 15 to be part of a social trend and be introduced to smoking. Incidentally, we should take Brazil seriously because they are the first and the only country in the world to achieve the target reduction of 30 per cent in smoking according to the Global Action Plan of WHO. That is the only country that has achieved it. They have banned tobacco substitution products.

       Sir, at an age when young children are not prone to thinking about the ramifications of every action, should we be introducing this to them? In a very dangerous trend, what are the four products that Juul Labs is launching in India next year if the Government had not got this Bill into the House? They were going to launch Banana flavour, strawberry flavour, melon flavour and apple flavour of e-cigarettes. I want to ask this House, is this not an absolute way of introducing young children to cigarettes? Is a grown man going to smoke a strawberry-flavoured cigarette or an apple-flavoured cigarette? Certainly, nobody that I know. So, we cannot have a product where it seems that the product is fun and child friendly. For God’s sake, we are talking about a treated tobacco product, a nicotine product and a chemical product here or which we do not even know what chemical composition it is.

Sir, I have a suggestion to give to the hon. Minister and the Government. This is a highly positive step. The hon. Member who spoke before me about the tobacco smokers being very many in number. Yes, they are very many. He also suggested that we should ban tobacco. I do not want to disagree, in principle. There are 130 million farmers today who are involved in tobacco farming. Are you going to put them on streets by banning tobacco? Let us speak about the things which we can do reasonably.

Let us not just speak in the air here. We are going to take 130 million farmers and strip them of all their assets and all their technical wherewithal. I find it extraordinary. But what can we do? For three years, the taxes on tobacco have not been adjusted for inflation. Right now, they are 53 per cent. My suggestion is if we can take them to the WHO standard of 75 per cent, that, I think, would be a step in the right direction.

       Sir, smoking bidis, as we know, is something that has not been touched for a long time because they are seen to be a simple pleasure available to the poor.

HON. CHAIRPERSON: Hon. Member, you are suggesting that the hon. Health Minister would suggest to the Commerce Minister to increase the tax slab on tobacco.

SHRI  FEROZE VARUN GANDHI : Sir, this is not my duty to suggest. I can only put forth a suggestion as a Lok Sabha MP. But I can say this that when we are talking about bidis, smoking bidiscost the Indian exchequer in ill health Rs.80,000 crore a year. It costs Rs.80,000 crore a year but the revenue gained is Rs.417 crore a year. Now, there are those who will say that the tax should not be increased, that is one of the simple pleasures to the poor. However, my question to the House is this. By keeping very low taxes on bidis, are we helping or killing the poor? This is the question I want to ask the House.

       The reason I have focused on taxation is because, I think, to ban tobacco, frankly, is something that is not possible. So, I do not want to speak in the air. I will just lastly say we have a national goal of having a healthy population and a productive workforce. When I look at this Ordinance, I am proud that we have taken a step towards looking at the direct cause and externalities which are crushing this national goal.

   

       Let us not introduce yet another addiction and hazardous habit into our youth without having the need for it. We may not know the chemical poison it carries but we can definitely, clearly see into the future as to the social poison that it brings with it.

       Thank you, Sir.

HON. CHAIRPERSON: As an intelligent Member of Parliament, I hope, all of you will agree, the hon. Member not only supported the Bill, but also has given a very good suggestion relating to taxation on tobacco. I think, the Government will take it forward so that we will discourage the tobacco taking practice that is also growing in our country.

       Thank you, hon. Member.

 

SHRI DNV. SENTHILKUMAR S. (DHARMAPURI): Vanakkam, Chairperson Sir!        I am here to speak on the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Bill, 2019. The House adjourned in the month of August, and the Ordinance was brought in the month of September. Then, the Session has been started in the month of November. So, what is the urgency in bringing the Ordinance? What sort of things can be brought in an Ordinance? An Ordinance is something to deal with situations where an emergency arises requiring urgent action.

       So, I would like to know whether consuming of less than 0.02 per cent of e-cigarettes is very important national urgency that should have been brought in by an Ordinance, when the Session is going to start in November. There are so many urgencies/emergencies which are to be addressed. For example, eradication of poverty, empowerment of women, safety of children, health, and providing social equality and justice. These are all other important issues which are much more important than bringing an Ordinance to ban e-cigarettes.

       I have a strong doubt that bringing an Ordinance of this sort would have been lobbied by the tobacco/cigarette lobby. So, a big, strong doubt arises out of this.

       What is e-cigarette? E-cigarette is a battery-operated device that emits doses of vaporized nicotine to inhale. So, it is basically inhaling tobacco without the smoke.

       E-cigarette has good potential for cutting down cigarettes. Who says this? It is the British Medical Journal published in February, 2018 which has urged the doctors practising in Britain to suggest that 95 per cent of e-cigarettes are less harmful than the conventional smoking methods. Many countries which have banned smoking e-cigarettes, as we have done now, have revoked the ban saying the potential health hazards are much less compared to the conventional smoking methods. But Dr. Harsh Vardhan should be knowing, as I know since I am too a doctor, that both e-cigarettes and cigarettes have hazardous effects on health such as COPD, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, lung cancer, and heart diseases. Does it anywhere say that e-cigarettes are less harmful than conventional smoking? Both are hazardous. Why do you target only one of them?

       In the Statement of Objects and Reasons, you have given a clear statement that the International Association for Study of Lung Cancer does not recommend use of e-cigarettes. I would like to know whether the International Association for Study of Lung Cancer recommend the usage of regular cigarettes or regular tobacco-related products? No, it does not. So, why do we cut and paste scientific evidences which suit the Government of the day? Should we not put out all scientific data together to substantiate our theory? When we put out data, based on scientific evidence, we should put it out in its full context.

       We have a COTPA, the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act, for regulating branding and sales of cigarettes. Before bringing a hundred per cent blanket ban on e-cigarettes, why did we not try the route of regulating e-cigarettes? The friend from BJP had said that there are Chinese products which are harmful without any scientific data but we could have put in a regulatory Act just like COTPA before bringing out a total ban on e-cigarettes.

       The quality of life we seek for every citizen and the ethos and the morals that we would like to set for our students, the younger generation of India, to cultivate would be judged by the sincerity of this Government. The sincerity of the Government and that the Government means business can be proven by banning all tobacco products, if they are really concerned.

       An hon. Member said that there are many farmers who had taken up tobacco farming. We can give them an alternative though it cannot be brought in a day like the Government has brought in an Ordinance. India is a country of young generation. Your Government has such a strong majority. It was not at all necessary to bring in an Ordinance. We should look at moving forward, banning tobacco products totally, including tobacco cigarettes and everything related to them.

       My doubt about the ban arises because of this. In our State of Tamil Nadu, we have a ban on gutkha-related products. There was a CBI raid on …* when all the sale of gutkha was being done despite the ban.

HON. CHAIRPERSON: The name of the Minister should not go on record.

… ( Interruptions)  * SHRI  DNV. SENTHILKUMAR  S. : Sir, I am just concluding.

       We have the respected Health Minister here. I have a high regard for him. We would like to take the gutkha scam case to its logical conclusion and bring justice. This Government’s motto of sabka saath, sabka vikas is very doubtful. Seeing the recent developments in politics, we would also like to add that we would not want to see it as sabka … *.  I would like to take this to a conclusive end. So, along with the ban on e-cigarettes, our Party also suggests a ban on all tobacco-related products if you want to prove that you are not just sabka … * .

       Thank you.

 

SHRIMATI SARMISTHA SETHI (JAJPUR): Thank you, Sir, for giving me an opportunity to speak in this august House.

       The promulgation of the prohibition of Electronic Cigarette Ordinance, 2019 proHibits the production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, and advertisement of e-cigarettes in India.

Any person who contravenes this provision will be punishable with imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of one lakh rupees or both. For any subsequent offence, the person will be punishable with an imprisonment of up to three years, along with a fine of up to five lakh rupees. Additionally, storage of e-cigarettes will be punishable with an imprisonment of up to six months or a fine of Rs. 50,000 or both. Once the Ordinance comes into force, the owners of existing stocks of e-cigarettes will have to declare and deposit these stocks at the nearest office of an Authorized Officer. Such an Authorised Officer may be a police officer or any other officer as notified by the Central or the State Governments. The Ordinance defines electronic cigarettes, that is e-cigarettes as battery-operated devices that heat a substance, which may or may not contain nicotine, to create vapour for inhalation. These e-cigarettes can also contain different flavours such as menthol, mango, watermelon and also cucumber. Unlike traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes do not contain tobacco and therefore, are not regulated under the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products Act, 2003.

       Now, I come to the key features of this Bill. The Ordinance defines electronic cigarettes, that is, e-cigarettes as electronic devices that heat a substance, natural or artificial, to create aerosol for inhalation. These e-cigarettes may contain nicotine and flavours and also include all forms of electronic nicotine delivery systems, heat-not-burn products, e-hookahs and other similar devices.

       The second feature is banning of e-cigarettes. The Ordinance prohibits the production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution and advertisement of e-cigarettes in India. Any person who contravenes these provisions will also be punishable with imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of up to one lakh rupees or both. For any subsequent offence, the person will be punishable with imprisonment of up to three years along with a fine of up to five lakh rupees.

       Now, the third feature is storage of e-cigarettes. No person is allowed to use any place for the storage of any stock of e-cigarettes. If a person stores any stock of e-cigarettes, he will be punishable with an imprisonment of up to six months or a fine of up to Rs. 50,000 or both.

       The fourth and the last feature is powers of authorised officers. If an Authorised Officer believes that any provision of the Ordinance has been contravened, he may search for any place where trade, production, storage, or advertising of e-cigarettes is being undertaken. The authorised officer can seize any record or property connected to e-cigarettes found during the search.

       In this context, it is pertinent to mention that prior to this announcement, 16 States and one Union Territory had already banned e-cigarettes. In August 2018, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had released an advisory to all the States requiring them not to approve any new e-cigarettes and restrict the sale and advertisements of e-cigarettes. Further, there are also international regulations for e-cigarettes. India is a signatory to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) which was developed in response to the globalisation of the tobacco epidemic. In 2014, the WHO FCTC invited all its signatories to consider prohibiting or regulating e-cigarettes in their countries. This was suggested due to emerging evidence on the negative health impact of these products which could result in lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and other illnesses associated with smoking. Since then, several countries such as Brazil, Mexico, Singapore and Thailand have banned the production, manufacture and sale of e-cigarettes. Recently, the States of New York and Michigan in the USA banned the sale of flavoured  e-cigarettes, whereas, in UK, the manufacture and sale of e-cigarettes has been allowed based on certain conditions. Further, the advertisement and promotion and the levels of nicotine in e-cigarettes is also regulated. This ban will also help youngsters.

       The notion that e-cigarettes may help smokers quit regular cigarettes benefitting their long-term health is a myth. Rather, young people who have never smoked traditional cigarettes, are taking up e-cigarettes which are available in over 1500 flavours, including bubble gum and candy floss.

       In a survey of US youths aged between 12 and 17 years, 81 per cent of e-cigarette users reported that the first product they ever used was flavoured and that they use e-cigarettes because they come in flavours which they like. According to the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 3.6 million children in the US use e-cigarettes with a jump of 78 per cent (from 11.7 per cent to 20.8 per cent) of US high school students reporting e-cigarette use from 2017 to 2018.  In the UK, 1.6 per cent of those aged between 11 years and 18 years use e-cigarettes more than once a week compared to 0.5 per cent in 2015.  Due to the highly addictive nature of nicotine, there is also a risk that young e-cigarette users might switch to using traditional cigarettes.  Indeed, some health care professionals refer to e-cigarettes as a ‘gateway drug’.

       A recent US study was published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. It had investigated the effect of chronic e-cigarette use on markers of lung injury in the airways of vapers.  Proteases linked to tissue damage were increased in both smokers and vapers as compared with non-smokers.

       Once the ban comes into force, consumption, production, manufacturing, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement of e-cigarettes would become illegal in India also.

       E-cigarettes were promoted as a way to get people out of their smoking habits but reports have shown that many people are not using it as a weaning mechanism but are rather addicted to it.  The decision to ban e-cigarettes is aimed at protecting the youth, the section that is most vulnerable to the health hazards of e-cigarettes.  The ban will help to protect population, especially the youth and children, from the risk of addiction through e-cigarettes. 

So, I support the Bill.                                                         

HON. CHAIRPERSON:  Thank you, hon. Member. 

I would just like to suggest one thing to the hon. Minister. The honourable lady Member is the first speaker to speak on the Bill. More women today are going into smoking. Has any survey been done by our Government or any agency on the issue as smoking is being taken up in a very big way by the women folk of our country?  And that is quite alarming. So also are school going children because e-cigarettes look just like pen drive.  That gets carried in the school bags.   So, it is necessary, as the woman Member just now spoke, that the Government should make all efforts in creating awareness about it. The hon. Member spoke in favour of the Bill.

       Now, I call Shri Margani Bharat to speak.…(Interruptions)

मत्स्यपालन, पशुपालन और डेयरीमंत्री (श्री गिरिराजसिंह):सर, अगर सभी लोग इसके फेवर में हैं तो इसे पास कर दियाजाए । …(व्यवधान)

 

SHRI MARGANI BHARAT (RAJAHMUNDRY): I thank you, hon. Chairman, for giving me the opportunity to speak on the Bill.  Sir, we have been trying hard to ban tobacco and its related products for decades, be it through higher taxes or warning which has now been mandated to print at 80 per cent of the pack.   But the results are not what we expected or what it ought to have been.  So, in a lighter vein, I say that instead of printing a warning as ‘cigarette smoking is injurious to health’, you may print the warning as ‘cigarette contains fat’ and you may see the effect the very next year.  You will find that cigarette sales have dropped down to zero.

       Why I am saying this is because, as per WHO, almost ten lakh people are getting killed using cigarettes and related products. The Government should take stringent steps in controlling cigarette-based products. 

       The Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) was celebrated as a solution to smoking problems as it was considered as a safe non-tobacco alternative.  Also, it is a very less risky smoking option and has attracted not only youth but also those who want to quit smoking. However, the researchers, the health practitioners, the Government and the whole world has realised the ill effects for quite sometime now.

       Sir, the proposal to ban them through this Bill is welcoming, and I support this Bill not only on behalf of       YSR Congress Party, but also, being a youth, on behalf of youth of this country.

       My first point is relating to Clause 3(d), which defines what constitutes ‘electronic cigarette.’ A lengthy definition has been given saying: “the electronic device that heats a substance with metals like lead, chromium, nickel, chemicals like formaldehyde, with or without nicotine and flavours….e-hookah and the like devices, by whatever name called and whatever shape, size or form…”        Sir, my point is that they are saying: ‘e-hookahs and the like devices.’ But nowhere, they have mentioned banning of conventional hookahs, which can be seen in every household, particularly, in North India, which is being used right from a young boy to 90-year old.   The point that I am talking about is about the e-hookahs also. I wanted to know: why is the Bill silent on this? Why are they not banning such hookahs?  So, I would request the hon. Minister to clarify this point.

       Sir, my second point is relating to Clause 6 of the Bill, which gives an officer the authority to enter into any premises without any warrant and carrying search and seizure.  It further says that he can enter into any premises if he reasonably believes that any provision of this Act has been contravened.  But how do they define or quantify the phrase ‘reasonably believes’.  I may have a grudge on anybody, for instance; and taking advantage of this provision, I will enter into the premises of a person on whom I have a grudge, plant something and take action against him.  So, how is it justified, Sir?

       I would suggest for the consideration of the hon. Minister that let the authority concerned get warrant for search and seizure. Otherwise, it may be misused thoroughly. These days, it is happening everywhere in the country.

       My next point is this.  There is no doubt that the Government is going to ban e-cigarettes.  But it does not mean that henceforth, these e-cigarettes would not be available. They will be available through dubious means.  We have banned the foreign cigarettes, but still they are available in India.  So, the same thing may happen with e-cigarettes if we do not implement it with sincerity, commitment and great spirit. If we show the kind of commitment and breadth on banning tobacco, khaini, zarda, ghutka, pan masala and cigarette that are responsible, as per WHO Report, for killing  more than 10 lakh people in the country, I have no hesitation  in saying that banning of  e-cigarettes will also smoke away. 

       Therefore, I feel that having a legislation in the Statute Book does not serve the whole purpose.  All we need is the commitment and dedication to implement this objective. Otherwise, it will become one more dead letter.

       Sir, the Government is saying that seven deaths have occurred in the US due to use of e-cigarettes. The New York State has banned the e-cigarettes in all forms. But it is not just New York, even San Francisco, Brazil, Australia and more than 20 other countries from South America, Middle-East and South-East Asia have banned e-cigarettes.   Punjab and Delhi have also banned it. But as per my knowledge, they are available openly in plenty everywhere in the nook and corner of the cities. 

       I agree that banning of e-cigarette is a good move.  But what about the innumerable deaths being caused by cigarettes?  So, why do the Government  not completely ban  tobacco and related products?   They cannot do this because the lobby is very strong and can prevail over the Ministers and the Government of the day.  So, I would suggest for the consideration of the hon. Minister to ban tobacco, which is a basic ingredient to cigarette and related products.

       You may be surprised that how a Member from Andhra Pradesh, which is one of the leading States in production of tobacco, is batting for banning of tobacco.  I am conscious of what I am saying.  Tobacco is to be banned lock, stock and barrel.  But, at the same time, tobacco farmers, be it in Andhra Pradesh or in Karnataka or in any other State, have to be protected.

       With your permission, let me come to the issue relating to tobacco.  There is no doubt that 50 per cent of the tobacco grown in the country comes from our Prakasam district alone in Andhra Pradesh.  The variety grown here is Flue Cured Virginia which is commonly known as Virginia or Cigarette tobacco.  The Government of India has been earning thousands of crores of rupees every year in the form of foreign exchange by exporting FCV tobacco.  In 2013-14, the Government of India earned around Rs. 6,060 crore.  In 2014-15, the Government of India earned Rs. 5,200 crore.  In 2017-18, the country exported around Rs. 5,539 crore worth tobacco. The countries which import our FCV tobacco are Panama, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Sudan, South Africa, Indonesia, Israel, Afghanistan, etc.  This is one part where we have a flourishing market.  If you look at employment that the tobacco sector generates, it stands at 36 million.  It means, it is a golden goose to earn the foreign exchange as we are one of the top three exporters of tobacco in the whole world.

       Now, look at the other side of the coin.  I would like to explain the pathetic position of tobacco farmers in India.  There is an extreme pressure on the farmers from the Tobacco Board and the Government of India to give up tobacco farming.  The ground reality is that they cannot shun it overnight because they have invested lakhs of rupees on each barn.  Construction of one barn costs around Rs. 10 lakh which a tobacco farmer takes from moneylenders and financial institutions.  In spite of this, they are willing to give up and all they are asking is for giving some compensation.  The Government is also proactive in giving compensation but there are some more debts to be cleared by the Government.  Especially in my State, there are thousands of farmers who still have to get payments from the Government of India.  I would request the hon. Minister to look into this particular aspect seriously.  I suggest for consideration of the hon. Ministers of Health, Commerce and Agriculture that if a farmer has two barrens, we can convince him to grow only in one barren. For the remaining one barren, I wish to submit that a suitable compensation be paid by ensuring that he switches to other crop or other alterative farming.  Compensation can be given by the Tobacco Board which has in its kitty about Rs. 400 crore to Rs. 500 crore collected through cess, taxes and profits. 

       Secondly, the whole world knows that ITC for many decades has been enjoying the lion’s share in tobacco profits.  So, I would request that ITC should also be involved in this and it should share some burden of the Tobacco Board.  Also, since ITC has Agro Products Division, it can guide tobacco farmers for producing agro products which it can buy from them.  So, through this, we can rein in tobacco in the country.

       The YSR Congress Party would further request the Healthy Ministry to undertake a mass awareness drive regarding e-cigarettes and to make provisions against the use of ENDS as well.

       With this observation and hoping that the Government will take a suitable action particularly with regard to tobacco farmers, I wholeheartedly support this Bill.

       Thank you so much, Sir.

HON. CHAIRPERSON: Mr. Bharat always comes up with good suggestions.  He hails from a State which is a tobacco growing State.  Yet, he has said, hon. Minister, that he is in favour of banning tobacco.  But he has come out with certain suggestions saying very clearly that it is the foreign exchange that India earns because of export of our tobacco of high quality.

       The suggestions which he is making are very apt. I think the Government will consider ways to discourage use of tobacco by our fellow citizens.  That should be the crux of the issue.  He supports the Bill. At the same time, he has given certain suggestions.  This is in the right spirit of this House.

       At the same time, the farmers’ interest also needs to be protected and an alternative engagement should be provided to them.

 

श्रीमहाबलीसिंह (काराकाट):सभापति महोदय, इलेक्ट्रानिक सिगरेट पर प्रतिबंध के लिए सदन में जो विधेयक लायागया है, उसके पक्ष में बोलने के लिए मैं खड़ा हुआ हूं । कोई भी नशा हो, स्वास्थ्य की दृष्टि से वह कहीं न कहींहानिकारक है । कुछ साथी बाहर इस पर चर्चा कर रहे थे । हम इतने बड़े हो गए, लेकिनआज तक नहीं जानते कि ई सिगरेट क्या है, वह कैसी होती है? शायद दो-चार पर्सेंट लोग इसे जानते होंगे । हमने भी सुनाहै कि यह ऐसी सिगरेट है, जिसको पीने से बहुतअच्छा स्वाद आता है, लेकिन हमने उसे देखा नहीं है । लोगों का कहनाहै कि बीड़ी-सिगरेट से साल में करोड़ों लोग मर जातेहैं, लेकिनई सिगरेट से कोई नहीं मरता है । वह कैसीमहंगी सिगरेट है और कौन सी वह सिगरेट है, जिस पर हमारी सरकार प्रतिबंध लगाने जा रही है । हमें जहां तक अनुमान है कि ई सिगरेट अगर देखने में अच्छी है, पीने में अच्छी है, तो कहीं न कहींवह बहुत हानिकारक होगी । जब हम लोग राजनीति में आए थे, तो एक बहुत बड़े रणनीतिकार ने बताया था कि अगर किसी से अच्छे ढंग से दुश्मनी साधनी हो, तो उसको हेरोइन पीना सिखा दो । हेरोइन एक नशा है । उन लोगों ने कहा कि हेरोइन पिलाना सिखा दो । हेरोइन एक ऐसा नशा है…(व्यवधान)

माननीयसभापति : हीरोइन नहीं हेरोइन ।

श्रीमहाबलीसिंह: महोदय, हेरोइन एक ऐसा नशा है कि जिनको एक बार उसका नशा लग गया, उनका घर तो बर्बाद होगा ही, उनका परिवार, दौलत सब खत्महो जाएगी । देश का तो इसके साथ-साथ नुकसान होगा ही । हमको लगता है कि ई सिगरेट वैसी ही सिगरेट है । जब पीने में इसका स्वाद इतना अच्छा है और इतनी महंगी सिगरेट है कि गांव के गरीबकिसानों ने उसे आज तक देखा नहीं है, तो कहीं न कहींसे वह स्वास्थ्य के लिए बहुत हानिकारक है । यह देश हित और स्वास्थ्य हित में कतई नहीं है । सरकार ने जो निर्णय लिया है, हम समझते हैं कि देश की जनता के हित में यह निर्णय लिया   है ।

सरकार कितना भी अच्छा काम करे, लेकिन लोकतंत्र की परिपाटी बहुत पहले से चली आ रही है कि सत्ता पक्षा कितना ही अच्छा काम क्यों न करे, विपक्ष का काम है विरोध करना । सरकार कितना ही अच्छा काम करेगी, लेकिन विपक्ष का काम विरोध करना है । देश की जनताजानती है कि सरकार इस दिशा में अच्छा काम कर रही है । इस पर प्रतिबंध लगाना जरूरी था । सरकार ने सही समय पर इस पर प्रतिबंध लगाया है ।

महोदय, इसके साथ-साथ हम कहनाचाहेंगे कि देश में धूम्रपान एकदम निषेध करिए । सिगरेट भी स्वास्थ्य के लिए हानिकारक है, बीड़ी भी हानिकारक है, तम्बाकू भी हानिकारक है, जिससे साल में करोड़ों लोग मरते हैं । ई सिगरेट के साथ-साथ बीड़ी, सिगरेट, तम्बाकू सब पर प्रतिबंध लगाना चाहिए । बिहार में आदरणीय नीतीश कुमार जी ने शराब पर प्रतिबंध लगा दिया है ।    

अगर राजस्व सृजन की दृष्टिकोण से देखते तो प्रतिबंध नहीं लगाते । किसी भी जनप्रतिनिधि या सरकार का यह दायित्व होता है कि वह कोई भी कार्य आर्थिक सृजन के लिए न करे, देश हित और राज्य हित में करे । आज बिहार में आदरणीय नीतीश कुमार जी ने शराबबंदी कर दी । इसी तरह से तम्बाकू, सिगरेट और बीड़ी जितनी भी चीजें हैं, मैं सदन के माध्यम से सरकार से आग्रह करना चाहता हूं कि ई-सिगरेट पर प्रतिबंध लगाए कि कोई इसे न बेचे, न भंडारण करे, न आयात-निर्यात करे और उस पर कड़ा कानून बने । जब लोगों के बीच कानून का भय नहीं होगा तब सदन या सरकार कितना भी कानून बनाए,यह रुकने वाला नहीं है इसलिए कड़े से कड़ा कानून बनाया जाए ।

       महोदय, शराब पर भी प्रतिबंध लगे । शराब से भी करोड़ों लोग मरते हैं । बिहार में हमारी सरकार ने शराब बंद कर दी । इसमें भी यह प्रस्ताव लाया जाए कि शराब,बीड़ी, सिगरेट और तम्बाकू सभी पर प्रतिबंध लगे । सरकार का यह दायित्व है कि आर्थिक सृजन न देखते हुए जनता के हित और देश हित में प्रतिबंध लगाना चाहिए । हम इस विधेयक के पक्ष में बोलते हुए इस बिल का समर्थन करते हैं । धन्यवाद ।

SHRI RITESH PANDEY (AMBEDKAR NAGAR): Sir, this Bill, the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Bill, 2019, specifically looks to ban the use, marketing and production of electronic cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes do have hazardous effects on individual’s health whilst if we also look at the fact that there are other smoking tobacco products that cause the same or even, if not, more harm to an individual’s body. Therefore, it is imperative that we think why such product has seen an outright ban whereas we have solid and effective data on the effects of consumption of tobacco, smoking and various other such products that have adverse effect on human health.

       In India, we are aware that India spends about 1.2 per cent of its GDP on tobacco related illnesses which cost around 27.93 billion dollars. That exceeds over Rs.1 lakh crore. I wish to highlight the fact here that today we are looking at a ban on electronic cigarettes. Is it only because of the adverse effect of consuming or inhaling the smoke from electronic cigarettes? Or, is it, to a certain extent, to provide a protection cover to the cigarette lobbies across the world that bring in their products and sell in this country? Regarding electronic cigarettes, there has been no data so far when you compare it with smoking of cigarettes and consumption of tobacco. There has been no solid data so far about confirmed and adverse effect of the consumption of electronic cigarettes. Although I am of the view that it is harmful but at the same time, we know that the effect of smoking traditional cigarettes, which have various tar and other chemicals that go into the human body and remain buried in the lungs, causes cancer. There is widely available data across the world that this is leading to grave loss to the exchequer of various countries across the world, including our own, as I have just pointed out. India has recorded about 2,60,000 adult smokers. Also, at the same time, I would like to point out मेरे लोक सभा क्षेत्र अम्बेडकर नगर में लोगों के लिए मैं प्रधान मंत्री राहत कोष को पत्र लिखता हूं, जिन्हें धूम्रपान और स्मोकिंग की वजह से कैंसर हुआ है, उनको प्रधान मंत्री राहत कोष से आर्थिक मदद दिलाने का काम करते हैं ।   

       Sir, I would like to point out the fact that when a person burns a cigarette, he inhales not just the tobacco and the nicotine that he gets from it but also the tar which is the main cause of illnesses that happen to him. Therefore, this Bill begs the question, why just electronic cigarettes are being banned and why not the cigarettes altogether? Now, the simple answer, to a certain extent, seems that the Government is protecting the cigarette lobby, the cigarette producers of the country and also of the world, who see India as a huge market to push their products.

       Electronic cigarette, on the other hand, although is injurious to health, can also be looked upon within the same ambit. It is a fact that in India a large number of farmers depend on tobacco farming and it is the second largest employment generation sector in the farming community, which I think is a welcome thing. If one looks to ban the production of cigarettes altogether, that would have adverse effects on our farmers. That is something that the Government needs to think about.

       But, at the same time, one can argue with the same rhetoric that production of electronic cigarettes or use or sale of electronic cigarettes within our country would also generate employment, would also create jobs and if we tax it correctly, just like we tax tobacco cigarettes, it can also generate the right amount of revenue for the Government.

       On the other hand, the question that can be raised is, why not ban everything altogether, why not ban tobacco, why not ban tobacco products, why not ban supari and why not ban surti that causes tremendous health hazards to our citizens and also causes a lot of money to our exchequer? The simple answer to that, which comes to my mind is, of course, it affects our exchequer because it generates a lot of money through sale and taxation on such products. A lot of farmers depend on production of tobacco and its byproducts for their livelihood. But, at the same time, should this argument not also apply to e-cigarettes?

       The other point that I would like to make is regarding Article 19 (1) (g) of the Constitution of India where the Right to Freedom is given. The Article guarantees to protect practice of any profession, any occupation, trade or business. Are we not at this point being partial to give protection to a particular product that causes harm to human body whereas for electronic cigarettes we say that it is injurious to public health and in lieu of that we are banning it? But, on the other hand, a similar product that has more disastrous effects on the human body is being allowed to be traded. Therefore, within our Constitution the right that has been preserved for doing trade is being challenged by such a law where you are getting biased towards one product.

       So, this is very clear that the Government is trying to help and benefit certain lobbies which are looking to secure their market, which are looking to ensure that they occupy the entire market and no other product or competition should enter there. This is very sad and I think the Government should answer this question and provide reasoning as to why they have not banned the consumption and usage of tobacco cigarettes, gutka, surti and everything of that sort. 

       Sir, one hon. Member has rightly pointed out that there are various other products that are injurious to health such as drinking alcohol. It should also fall within its ambit. If one product is being treated in such a way, why not the others?

       That is the question that ought to be answered over here. Now, I would like to conclude my speech by saying that though we support this Bill, at the same point, it should also extend to other products that are harmful and injurious to human health.

       At the same time, I would like to point out here that सबसे ज्यादा लोग, जिनको इससे कष्ट होता है, जिनको इससे उत्पन्न बीमारियों को झेलना पड़ता हैं, वे गरीब तबके के लोग हैं । खैनी, सुरती,सिगरेट, बीड़ी और तम्बाकू से कैंसर जैसी बीमारियां होती हैं जिनको उन्हें झेलना पड़ता है । इस से निपटने के लिए हमें इन सब चीजों के ऊपर एक कानून बनाने की जरूरत है । किसी एक प्रोडक्ट को टारगेट करके,किसी व्यक्ति-विशेष या किसी विशेष मार्केट को प्रोटेक्ट करने के लिए हम ऐसा कानून न लेकर आएं, जिससे  कहीं न कहीं अधिकारों का हनन और अपने संविधान में दिए गए अधिकारों का हनन हो ।

बहुत-बहुत धन्यवाद ।

HON. CHAIRPERSON: Mr. Ritesh Pandey has given a new dimension to the whole discussion today. I think, he has given a lot of scope to the Minister to explain.

PROF. SOUGATA RAY (DUM DUM): Sir, I am thankful that the House is sitting so long at the desire of the hon. Speaker who wants to make up for the time lost yesterday. It is a good initiative.

HON. CHAIRPERSON: You have supported it.

PROF. SOUGATA RAY: I have supported extension of the time because he is trying to complete the Business of the House which is a good thing.

       Let me make it clear at the outset that I was one of those who moved a Statutory Resolution against the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Ordinance, 2019. I oppose the Ordinance because I do not like the Government taking the Ordinance route. It circumvents the democratic procedure and it was only a matter of one or two months. So, the Government should not have resorted to the Ordinance.

       Having said that opposing the use of Ordinances, let me make it absolutely clear that my Party is for the Bill, for banning of electronic cigarettes. My Party is also against smoking. It is not a personal question; it is a political view that smoking causes lung cancer and should be banned.

       The Health Minister is an eminent ENT surgeon himself. He has seen at close range the amount of cancer cigarettes produce. So, if he has taken this step, I would have no objection, but like my young friend, Ritesh Pandey, I have a lot of questions to ask the hon. Minister.

       In Bengali, there is a proverb which says jhi ke mere bouke shekhano which means that you beat up the maid servant to teach a lesson to your daughter-in-law. This is what the Minister is doing. Actually, his intention is to take on the tobacco lobby and the manufacturers, but he lacks the courage to do it at one go. So, he has taken up a very small percentage of tobacco users where only 3.95 per cent of Indian population were aware of e-cigarettes and the percentage of users stood at 0.02. So, he is leaving 99.98 per cent free of this law; he is only touching the 0.02 per cent. Is it wise? Is it efficacious?

HON. CHAIRPERSON: Is the use of e-cigarettes not increasing year after year?

PROF. SOUGATA  RAY: Sir, e-cigarettes are diminishing year after year because they are costly and beyond the reach of most of the people.

       Earlier, the ITC was importing e-cigarettes from China. There is not much manufacture of e-cigarettes anywhere. It is a very advanced electronic item. It is mostly imported. Big companies like the ITC and Philip Morris used to import these things and market them in India.

       What is an e-cigarette? The Minister said something about it. But basically it is a hardware which is designed to replicate the traditional cigarette. It gives a sort of cigarette smoking experience with the help of battery, atomizer, and e-liquid juice. It produces vapour by passing current through an atomizer from the battery which vaporises the e-juice. I would like to state that it is not marketed as a cessation device. That means nobody gives up smoking cigarette because of e-cigarettes, and it is used only as a substitute for traditional cigarettes. So, as I said, there is a battery. You press the button. Then, it atomises and then there is the e-liquid which is used. That is why, I think that the Minister is only touching the fringe of the problem. From his Ordinance, from his hurry, it would seem as if he is taking a massive step against smoking per se. But, as my young friend, Shri Ritesh Pandey said, it is not only smoking, but chewing tobacco also is equally dangerous. Other tobacco products like the pan parag, zarda etc. are equally dangerous. So, he is touching only the fringe of the problem and that too with much fanfare. This is what I think should not have happened.

18.56 hrs                    (Shri Kodikunnil Suresh in the Chair)        You may ask as to what is my solution. The Minister has stated many steps that he would take, like electronic cigarette industry will be taken under his control, production, manufacture, import, export, advertisement, etc will be stopped, storage of electronic cigarettes will be stopped, all stocks and disposing of stocks will be controlled by an authorised officer. This is like what you do for cocaine and marijuana. If anybody contravenes this Act, there is a provision for imprisonment which may extend up to one year and a fine which may extend up to Rs. 1 lakh or more.

       I have another question to ask of the hon. Minister. He is taking so much trouble to enforce this ban. He will authorise an officer to enforce this ban. But has ban really prevented things from happening? For example, in Gujarat there is prohibition. Ban on alcohol drinking is in practice for so many years. Has drinking stopped in Gujarat? Bihar has had a ban on alcohol for so many years now. Has consumption of alcohol stopped in Bihar? The idea of ban, which is very popular among Governments in our country is not efficacious. It does not serve the purpose. So, you might ask me as to what is my solution and how to enforce the ban. The way of enforcing the ban is to price it out of the range of the people. This ban will ultimately not have much effect. So, what you can do is to make it expensive beyond limits and regulate them by imposing taxes. You can do it for other products also and not just for e-cigarettes. So, ban is no solution. Making it available beyond their buying capacity seems more reasonable than banning products. Even if the Government bans e-cigarettes, they should not let cigarettes and bidis be sold freely which kills 1.2 million people every year. That is the main question. You are not stopping sale of cigarettes, bidis, gutka, chewing tobacco, pan parag, etc. But you are just banning electronic cigarettes and you have promulgated an Ordinance for the same.

19.00 hrs        As it is, e-cigarettes are priced high. So, if we increase the cost further, it will be more efficacious. I shall not oppose the Bill. I have got many amendments to move but I shall not oppose the Bill.

HON. CHAIRPERSON: But you have to admit the spirit of the Bill.

PROF. SOUGATA RAY: Yes, Sir. All I am saying is that let the Minister see this. Sir, the Minister’s conclusions are somewhat sketchy. He has said that available scientific evidence indicates that use of e-cigarettes is hazardous for an active as well as a passive user. Where is the scientific evidence? He should have quoted the scientific evidence on e-cigarettes.

       Secondly, he has said that ICMR has issued a White Paper. But the White Paper has not been circulated to us. ICMR is Indian Council of Medical Research. That White Paper is not available with us. The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer also does not recommend the use of e-cigarettes for treating nicotine dependence even in cancer patients, due to the absence of sufficient evidence on their efficacy and safety.    So, even the International Association has not recommended this banning of e-cigarettes.

       So, my appeal to you, Sir, is that please rethink about this. I am giving a specific amendment in that sense. He has mentioned about three types of electronic cigarettes. It is mentioned that ‘electronic cigarette’ means an electronic device that heats a substance, with or without nicotine and flavours, to create an aerosol for inhalation and includes all forms of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems, Heat Not Burn Products, e-Hookah and the like devices. I said, ok, where nicotine is delivered electronically, you can eliminate them. You can also eliminate e-Hookah. But they say that there are some Heat Not Burn Products. We just heat the tobaccos but do not burn them. They should be classified in the same say.

       Sir, in cigarettes, there are three dangerous things. One is nicotine, second is the paper and the third is tar that is formed. So, if the Heat Not Burn Products is used, at least tar and paper’s smoke will not occur.

       So, I would like to ask the hon. Minister whether you would like to rethink on this matter. Sir, having put my objections, let me again say that the most dangerous thing today is chewing tobacco. 51 million people are using it. How does tobacco stock exist in the market? He has not done anything about it.

Earlier they said that cigarette, bidi will not be sold within so many metres of school premises or religious places. That is also happening.

So, the hon. Minister has to take many more steps to ensure the lessening of cigarette smoking. Banning is surely not the way by which it will be lessened.

I would again ask the Minister to think of more efficacious ways to cut down smoking. I know with tobacco industry’s giant like ITC, Philip Morris, Godfrey Philip etc., you will not be able to close down the tobacco industry. Thousands and millions of farmers are tobacco farming in Andhra Pradesh and other States. You will not be able to meet the challenge of those tobacco farmers’ lobby.

So, he is taking just a token step to say that : “See, I am Harsh Vardhan, ENT Specialist and a Minister, and I am opposing e-cigarettes through this. I am paying my token allegiance to the cause of stopping cigarette smoking.”.

HON. CHAIRPERSON: So, you are giving a compliment to the Minister! PROF. SOUGATA RAY : No, he is a top ENT Surgeon. There is no doubt. He is the best man BJP has in Delhi. There is no doubt. He should have been made Chief Ministerial candidate, but that is another question.

       I would say that let him rethink on all the points that I have put. Thank you, Sir.

HON. CHAIRPERSON: You have made very valid points regarding this issue.

Now, I would call upon hon. Member, Dr. M.K. Vishnu Prasad. 

PROF. SOUGATA RAY : He is also a doctor.

 

DR. M.K. VISHNU PRASAD (ARANI): Thank you, Chairperson. I am a Medical Doctor, and I am very grateful for getting an opportunity to speak on the prohibition of electronic cigarettes.

       First and foremost, I would like to say that the very idea of our hon. Prime Minister is ‘Digital India’. The moment he says ‘Digital India’, I was thinking that the country is going to promote e-commerce, e-tender and robotic surgery. But I was shocked to know how e-cigarette is being banned.

Anyway, to start with, I want to tell you a quote : “Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know it because I have done it 1,000 times”. I would really say that the youngsters of this age who really wanted to quit smoking have opted for these e-cigarettes. Honestly, I appreciate the initiative taken by the Government of focusing on e-cigarettes to be banned. What will happen to the people who have already resorted to e-cigarettes after that ban? Is there any proposal by the Government for any rehabilitation for those three per cent people who have already indulged in e-cigarettes?

The meaning of e-cigarette is ‘the device that heats a substance with or without nicotine’. It clearly says that 100 per cent nicotine is not used among all the users. It varies, but most of them wanted to quit cigarette. So, they opted for e-cigarettes and they are trying to wean out the habit of smoking. But I would like to know about this issue when the Government is so strict on banning e-cigarettes by bringing this promulgation order. The e-cigarettes are very expensive. It costs almost Rs. 5,000. Nearly, 99.8 per cent of the population, who have already indulged in smoking, are only smoking cheaper cigarettes. These 0.02 per cent people are spending almost Rs. 5,000 to get a stick of e-cigarette with a filler. Is the Government very much bothered only about the rich children of this country? Otherwise, can we say that the Government is blind towards the poor people who are already indulged in smoking? Is it not the responsibility of the Government to save them also from smoking instead of bringing this Bill completely banning it?

The Government is always quoting United States, UK, Germany, but e-cigarettes are not banned there. They have a regulation for it. Instead, the nicotine-fillers can be banned. This has been adopted by many other countries, which we are always very proud to follow. If at all the Government wants to ban e-cigarettes because of the fear that the people who start with e-cigarettes will eventually lead to conventional smoking, then in that case, why can the Government not follow the Korpa system very strictly? Moreover, I think that the Government is feeling that since 0.02 per cent only have started smoking e-cigarettes, banning entire tobacco products or 99.8 per cent people from smoking is rather a difficult job or a Himalayan task.

So, you want to nip it in the bud itself by banning the e-cigarettes. Okay, I agree. At the same time, is it not the responsibility of the Government to stop giving licence to the Hookah Bars because everywhere Hookah Bars are being introduced? The new culture of Hookah Bars is coming with varied licence of the Government. I urge upon the Government to kindly also consider banning Hookah Bars while banning e-cigarettes because Hookah Bars are in the initial stage. It is in the budding stage. You are very strict on e-cigarettes. At the same time, try to focus on banning or stop giving licence to Hookah Bars.

Probably the reading is different. The e-cigarettes might cause accidents because it is an electronic thing. Sometimes it bursts and causes damage to the face. Hon. Minister, you are a very learned person. I have high regards for you. First and foremost, the forensic people would ask, when they come across any fire accident, whether there was cigarette butt. So, the fire in the cigarette butt has caused major fire accidents all across the world. No doubt. Causing accidents cannot be a substantive point for you to ban these e-cigarettes.

I think, the Government is keener in banning a blade than a sword; the Government is keen on banning a stone than a bullet. I think, definitely, the Government is under heavy pressure by the tobacco lobby because 99.8 per cent of the tobacco is freely available and there is only 0.2 per cent non-tobacco users. E-cigarette users are going to have a big challenge in the near future.

It is stated in the Bill that an officer, not less than the rank of a Sub-Inspector,  can enter upon any house, in the name of search or suspicion.  I think, this will  give room for wide misuse. So, I would request the Government to relook into this particular aspect. You want to ban e-cigarettes. These e-cigarettes are only to help the people who wanted to stop smoking. What about the fruit bear, non-alcoholic bear, and the ginger bear? Is the Government coming up with any proposal to even stop those products? I was astonished to see the countries which have been quoted as an example for banning e-cigarettes – Brazil, Argentina, Japan and Thailand. These countries are heavy cigarette smoking and tobacco using countries. Naturally, they will ban  e-cigarettes because proportionally their business will increase.

Last but not least, I welcome banning of e-cigarettes subject to terms and conditions. The Government is now coming with this proposal to ban e-cigarettes. Will the same Government come with any plan to ban Electronic Voting Machines? That is also harmful for the country.

HON. CHAIRPERSON: That is a different subject.

DR.  M. K. VISHNU PRASAD: One of the hon. Members was giving statistics about the US. He was comparing the age. The average age is 17 for e-cigarette smokers, and 35 for the conventional smokers. Both the e-cigarette smokers and conventional smokers have increased. Sir, I agree e-cigarette smokers and conventional cigarette smokers have increased. No doubt. Why are you focusing only on e-cigarettes? Why do you not treat them equally? Why is this partiality? This is not my question but the question from outside. So, I urge the Government to come back with a comprehensive Bill. You have an absolute majority. You can make the Sun rise from the West also. The Government has that kind of power. Why does the  Government not protect the interests of the tobacco farmers while banning the usage?

In this Bill, the prohibition of e-cigarettes includes production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage, advertisement and everything is covered but usage is not covered. So, kindly include that also. Thank you for the opportunity.

 

श्री रवि किशन (गोरखपुर): धन्यवाद महोदय कि आपने मुझे ई-सिगरेट पर जो सरकार प्रतिबंध लगा रही है, उसके समर्थन में बोलने का मौका दिया । जी हां,मैं इस बिल का समर्थन करता हूं । मैं समर्थन इसलिए करता हूं कि बहुत सारे माननीय सदस्य,अपनी-अपनी पार्टी से बोल रहे थे कि ई-सिगरेट क्या है? एक कहावत है, जो पहले हम सुनते थे-“अंग्रेज इस देश में दो चीज छोड़कर चले गए- सॉरी और सिगरेट ।” उस सिगरेट को हम आज भी ढो रहे हैं । उस एडिक्शन को अभी तक हम निकाल नहीं पाए हैं । तम्बाकू का बिजनेस हो गया, खेतिहर किसानों का बिजनेस हो गया, लेकिन जो एडिक्शन है,उस कैंसर को हम लादे चल रहे हैं । लगभग डेढ़ सौ साल हो गए हैं । अंग्रेज सिगरेट को यहां पर ठूंस कर चले गए । 

       महोदय, हमारे कुछ साथी नहीं चाह रहे हैं कि इस पर प्रतिबंध लगे । वे चाहते हैं कि अब यह नई ई-सिगरेट आए और इसको बढ़ावा दिया जाए । इनको पता ही नहीं है कि यह सिगरेट क्या है? ई-सिगरेट एक पतली सी इलेक्ट्रॉनिक डिवाइस है । उसके साथ एक पॉड लगा रहता है । वह पॉड करीबन दो हजार रुपये का आता है और ई-सिगरेट करीबन चार-साढ़े चार हजार रुपये की आती है । छ: हजार रुपये में यह पैकेट आता है । इसका एडिक्शन लगा था । यह बहाना फैलाकर मार्केट में कर दिया गया,ज़ूल एक कंपनी है, जिसने अमेरिका में यह फैलाया कि “If you want to get rid of cigarettes, and not to get addicted to this, you will definitely quit smoking.” मोस्टली क्या हुआ कि अमेरिका के घरों के 9 साल, 10 साल,11साल के बच्चे, They started carrying it to the schools. इसमें स्मेल नहीं आता,गंदी बदबू नहीं आती । आप कहीं पर भी बैठकर पी लीजिए,किसी को पता नहीं चलेगा । यह एक आग की तरह पूरे अमेरिका में फैल गया । अमेरिका इसके खिलाफ है । अमेरिका को जब पता चला, तो वाशिंगटन में They have written on 19th September ई-सिगरेट प्रतिबंधित करने का भारत का फैसला ऐतिहासिक है । यह वहां के अखबार की हेडलाइन थी । नशीले पदार्थों के खिलाफ मुहिम चलाने वाले अमेरिका के समूह ने कहा कि ई-सिगरेट को प्रतिबंधित करने जैसा ऐतिहासिक फैसला लेकर भारत युवाओं को समस्याओं से बचाने की लड़ाई में विश्व में अग्रणी बन गया है ।

‘Campaign for tobacco free kids’ के अध्यक्ष मैथ्यू ने कहा कि राष्ट्र भर में ई-सिगरेट की बिक्री उत्पादन,निर्यात और विज्ञापन पर प्रतिबंध लगाने का भारत का फैसला युवाओं को निकोटिन की लत से बचाने की दिशा में एक साहसिक कदम है । उन्होंने भारत में ई-सिगरेट की लत से युवाओं को बचाने के संबंध में लिए गए सरकार के इस निर्णायक कदम की सराहना की । दुनिया भर के देशों में ई-सिगरेट के तेजी से पहुंचने के कारण उन देशों की सरकारों के लिए नई चुनौतियां आ गई हैं और उनको इनका सामना करना पड़ रहा है । जो युवा नशे की लत से बचने के लिए तम्बाकू का इस्तेमाल कम करने की जद्दोजहद कर रहे थे, अब वे ई-सिगरेट के एडिक्ट हो गए हैं ।

       महोदय, मैं आपको बताना चाहता हूं कि अब यह महंगा नहीं है । हमारे कुछ माननीय सदस्य कह रहे थे कि यह महंगा है । गरीब आदमी इसको ले नहीं सकता । No, No. China started making copies of e-cigarettes. यह पांच सौ रुपये, आठ सौ रुपये में भी आ गया है । हजार रुपये में अब तो लोग नकली ई-सिगरेट पीने लगे हैं । इसमें अलग-अलग फ्लेवर्स हैं । एप्पल फ्लेवर,स्ट्रॉबेरी फ्लेवर, चॉकलेट फ्लेवर आदि अनगिनत फ्लेवर हैं । So, you get addicted to this. यह बहुत ही खतरनाक है । एक गाने से हम बर्बाद हुए । वह गाना बड़ा हिट हुआ था:

  “मैं जिंदगी का साथ निभाता चला गया ।

हर फिक्र को धुएं में उड़ाता चला गया ।”   सबको लगा कि फिक्र धुएं से उड़ेगी और सब लोग सिगरेट पी-पीकर कैंसर लेने लगे । मैं टेक्सस की एक कहानी सुनाता हूं ।  I am going to tell you. हमारे एक माननीय सदस्य ने कहा था कि इसके हार्म क्या हैं?नुकसान सुनिएगा,तब पता चलेगा कि सरकार क्यों इस बिल को लेकर आयी है और ई-सिगरेट पर प्रतिबंध लगा रही है । आप पहले इसके हार्म जानिए, यहां माननीय सदस्य नहीं है, शायद चले गए हैं । I just wanted to tell them about a case. A lady in Texas said that smoking habit left her with blood clots fluid in her lungs. She was vaping on and off for three years. In June, she started to cough and had a bad chest pain. She spent 24 days in hospital, and went directly into coma. इसमें स्ट्रेट डैथ है, ब्रेन स्ट्रोक होता है । स्ट्रेट हार्ट अटैक है, आपकी तुरंत मृत्यु हो जाती है । आपको सांस लेने का,चिल्लाने का या आवाज देने का समय भी नहीं मिलता है, तुरंत आप ऊपर निकल लेते हैं । Till now, 400 people in America, only in California, are suffering from this disease. यह मिसटिरियसली पता ही नहीं चला कि what they are suffering from. इसका धुआं लंग्स में जाकर एक काई सी जमा देता है और पूरे लंग्स को लॉक कर देता है,जिससे आप ब्रीद नहीं कर सकते हैं । यह केमिकल से बनता है । It is made from crystal. They make this by crushing crystal. उससे इतना सारा धुआं निकलता है । वह जो स्मोक होता है, जिसको आप हुक्के में भी देखते हैं । इसके अजीब-अजीब टाइप के क्रिस्टल्स होते हैं जो आपके छाती में जाते हैं । ईश्वर ने हमारा एक सुंदर शरीर बनाया है,जो रेड है । हमारे फेफड़े रेड हैं,हमारा हार्ट रेड है, उसको पूरा ब्लैक कर देता है, जैसा कि सिगरेट से होता है । ईश्वर ने जिसे रेड बनाकर भेजा था, हम उसको ब्लैक कर देते हैं, ब्लॉक कर देते हैं और मृत्यु की ओर हम लोग तुरंत अग्रसर हो जाते हैं ।

       महोदय, इसमें पांच परसेंट निकोटिन का कंटेंट होता है, जो कि बीस पैकेट सिगरेट के बराबर होता है । इसके चार पॉड्स आते हैं, जो कि एक सिगरेट के पैकेट के बराबर होता है, इसलिए मैं यह मानने को तैयार नहीं हूं कि इससे हार्म नहीं होता है । इससे बहुत हार्म होता है और डायरेक्ट डैथ होती है । यह बहुत ही खतरनाक है । यह बैटरी से चलता है । ऐसा भी हुआ है कि e-cigarettes have exploded and shattered people’s job, according to FDA (Food and Drug Administration). They have appeared to associate with battery related issues. People are smoking और उनके जबड़े फट गए हैं । पूरे विश्व में 65 प्रतिशत बच्चे,सबसे ज्यादा युवा पीढ़ी मेरे देश में है, तो मैं क्यों अपने युवाओं को बर्बाद होने दूंगा,मैं क्यों अपने देश के नौजवानों को बर्बाद होने दूंगा? जो लोग इस बिल को सपोर्ट नहीं कर रहे हैं,क्या वे अपने बच्चों को यह सिगरेट देंगे? क्या इनको अच्छा लगेगा,जब इनका बच्चा यह सिगरेट पीएगा?क्या ये अपने बच्चों को यह सिगरेट देंगे? अगर आपको अच्छा लगता है तो आप दीजिए । आप घर में तो अपने बच्चे को पीटने लगते हैं । मैं क्यों न मेरे देश के युवाओं को अभी से बचाऊं? अंग्रेज इस देश से चले गए हैं और हम सिगरेट को ढो रहे हैं । हमारा आधा देश एडिक्टिड हो गया है और अब यह नये वैपन को भी क्या आने दिया जाएगा?ई-सिगरेट,आप भी आइए । आपका स्वागत है, क्योंकि हम डेमोक्रेटिक कंट्री हैं । हमारा आजाद मुल्क है और लोकतन्त्र है । सभी का स्वागत है । डिबेट होगी और दो हां बोलेंगे,एक ना बोलेगा और डिबेट शुरू हो जाएगी । This is wrong. मैं बताना चाहता हूं, अधीर रंजन जी चले गए हैं,हमारी सरकार क्या नहीं कर रही है । वर्ष 2015 में सरकार स्ट्रिक्ट हुई । मैं सिनेमा से हूं । We used to smoke in the movies. …(व्यवधान)हम लोग सिनेमा में कभी-कभी सिगरेट पीते हैं । यह कला में एक स्टाइल के रूप में आती है । वर्ष 2015 में 8.2 प्रतिशत सिगरेट पीने वालों की संख्या कम हुई है । पर्दे पर अगर सिगरेट पीते हुए हीरो दिखाई देता है तो नीचे चेतावनी की पट्टी भी आती है । सिगरेट के पैकेट पर सड़ा हुआ जबड़ा, कैंसर से फटा हुआ दिखाई देता है । लेकिन ई-सिगरेट पर ऐसा कुछ भी नहीं है । There are no warnings. सिगरेट के पैकेट पर इतना बड़ा मुंह होता है, जो बहुत ही गंदा होता है ।

HON. CHAIRPERSON : Please conclude.

श्री रवि किशन :सर, मैं क्षमा चाहता हूं, हम भावनाओं में बह गए ।

HON. CHAIRPERSON: Please continue and conclude.

श्री रवि किशन: महोदय,मैंने जो… * शब्द बोला है, आप उसको एडिट कर सकते हैं । मैं यह बताना चाहता हूं कि सरकार उस पर एक डरावना-सा चेहरा बनाकर इस ओर काम कर रही है । मैं अपने शब्द को ठीक कर लेता हूं । उसको सरकार सिगरेट के पैकेट पर दिखाती है । ऐसा नहीं है कि सरकार उसको बढ़ावा दे रही है । जैसा कि हमारे एक माननीय सदस्य ने कहा है कि हम लोग किसी लॉबी को प्रोटेक्ट कर रहे हैं या इसमें हमारा कोई स्वार्थ है । लेकिन इसमें हमारा कोई भी स्वार्थ नहीं है । हमारे देश के नौजवानों को खत्म करना या उनके फेफड़ों को खराब करने की मंशा या स्वार्थ हम लोगों का नहीं है । हमारे नौजवानों को इस मां भारती की धरती पर श्रद्धेय नरेन्द्र मोदी जी और हमारी भारत सरकार यह कभी नहीं चाहेगी । इस सरकार का उद्देश्य हमारे देश को बचना और उसकी रक्षा करना   है । हम सभी लोग उसी लक्ष्य की तरफ बढ़ रहे हैं ।

सभापति महोदय, बहुत सारी बाते हैं । मैं बहुत देर से सबको सुन रह था, क्योंकि बहुत कम जानकारियां थीं । ई-सिगेरट से इंसान सीधे कोमा में चला जाता है । हार्ट का स्ट्रोक आता है । लंग्स से संबंधित सारी बीमारियां इससे जुड़ी हुई हैं । इसका कोई उपाय नहीं है । क्रिस्टल से बना धुआं होता  है । It damages your body. It straightway hits your brain. आपको ब्रेन से संबंधित बहुत सारी समस्याएं हो जाती हैं । बच्चे इसका इस्तेमाल करते हैं, क्योंकि इसको छिपाना बहुत ही आसान है । यह बढ़ रहा है । बहुत तरीकों से लोगों को इसकी जानकारी है । इसको हुक्का के विकल्प के रूप में देखा जा रहा है ।

महोदय, मैं इस बिल का समर्थन करता हूं और मैं यह नहीं चाहता हूं कि मेरे देश के जवान, मेरे देश के नवयुवक आज जिनकी आबादी 65 प्रतिशत है,वह किसी भी प्रकार से अपने शरीर को किसी भी मात्रा में, किसी भी तंबाकू से अपने आपको नुकसान पहुंचाए । चाहे वह सिगरेट हो, तंबाकू हो, गुटखा हो या कुछ भी हो, वे अपने शरीर को बर्बाद न करें । यह शरीर एक मंदिर है, पवित्र है । अतः मैं इस बिल का समर्थन करता हूं ।

 

श्रीसय्यद ईमत्याज ज़लील(औरंगाबाद) : सभापति महोदय,मैं हर उस चीज का समर्थन करता हैं, जो प्रतिबंध या बैन लगाने की बात करता है । जिसकी वजह से नशे की लत लगती है या हम अपने नौजवानों को अपनी आंखों के सामने बर्बाद होता हुआ देखते हैं । माननीय मंत्री जी, आज ई-सिगरेट को बैन करने का बिल लेकर आए हैं,मैं उसका समर्थन करता हूं । मैं यह समझता हूं कि इस सदन के अंदर जितने भी लोग हैं,वे पूरी तरह से इसका समर्थन करेंगे । लेकिन मैं माननीय स्वास्थ्य मंत्री जी से कुछ सवाल पूछना चाहता हूं । रिपोर्ट्स यह बताती हैं कि इस मुल्क के अंदर हर एक मिनट में या एक मिनट के अंदर 10 लोग तंबाकू से संबंधित बीमारियों की वजह से मर जाते हैं । मंत्री जी,आप इस बात को मानेंगे कि ई-सिगरेट्स तो इस देश के अंदर एक नया फिनॉमिना है । यह अभी-अभी नया-नया इन्ट्रोड्यूज़ हुआ है और पूरी तरह से देश भर में फैला भी नहीं है । इसके बावजूद भी अगर इतनी सारी मौतें हो रही हैं,तो आप खुद मानेंगे कि जो लोग मर रहे हैं, वे या तो सिगरेट पीकर मर रहे हैं या बीड़ी पीकर मर रहे हैं या गुटखा खाकर मर रहे हैं या किसी दूसरे नशे का इस्तेमाल करके मर रहे हैं या शराब पीकर मर रहे हैं ।

       सभापति महोदय,हर सिगरेट के पैकेट के ऊपर यह लिखा हुआ होता है कि “Cigarette smoking is injurious to health”. मुझे मालूम है कि जब मंत्री जी जवाब देने के लिए खड़े होंगे,तो वह यह दावा करेंगे कि आपके दौर में अवेयरनेस प्रोग्राम्स की वजह से तंबाकू से संबंधित मौतें कम हो रही हैं । तंबाकू की खपत कम हो रही है । जबकि हकीकत यह है कि इस मुल्क के अंदर वर्ष 1998 में 79 मिलियन स्मोकर्स हुआ करते थे । वर्ष 2018 में जिनकी संख्या बढ़कर 120 मिलियन हो गई है । यानी 20 सालों के अंदर 40 मिलियन स्मोकर्स का इज़ाफा हुआ है । महोदय, जब गुटखे के ऊपर बैन लगाया गया था,जब महाराष्ट्र की सरकार ने और अलग-अलग राज्यों की सरकार इसको लेकर आई थी, तब न जाने कितानी माताओं ने दुआएं दी थीं कि जिसकी वजह से कैंसर होता है, अब हमारे बच्चों को यह प्रोडक्ट बाजार में नहीं मिलेगा । लेकिन स्वास्थ्य मंत्री जी मैं आपको एक बात बताना चाहता हूं कि हकीकत क्या है ।

सभापति महोदय, मैं जब रविवार की रात को अपने संसदीय क्षेत्र - औरंगाबाद से निकल रहा था,तो मैंने अपने लड़के से कहा कि बाजार से जाकर गुटखा लेकर आओ । उसने मेरी तरफ हैरानी से देखा और मुझसे पूछा कि भईया आप तो गुटखा नहीं खाते हैं । आप यह क्यों मंगा रहे हैं? तब मैंने कहा कि मैं इस महान सदन को यह दिखाना चाहता हूं कि हम बिल तो लेकर आते हैं,वह बिल पास भी हो जाता है । लेकिन इसका इंप्लीमेन्टेशन जमीन के ऊपर कैसे होता है ।   

महोदय, मैं ये पूरे गुटखे और पान मसाले के पैकेट्स ले कर आया हॅूं और आपके जरिए मैं स्वास्थ्य मंत्री जी को यह देना चाहता हॅूं । स्वास्थ्य मंत्री जी, मैं आपसे अनुरोध करना चाहता हॅूं कि ये जितने भी गुटखे और पान मसाले पैकेट्स हैं इनको आप अपनी हैल्थ की किसी भी लैबोरेट्री के अंदर चैक करवाइए तो आपको पता चलेगा कि न तो यह गुटखा है, न तो यह पान मसाला है, बल्कि ज़हर का सामान है । …(व्यवधान)

HON. CHAIRPERSON: Hon. Member, it is not allowed. You can speak on the subject only.

श्री सय्यद ईमत्याज ज़लील: सर, यह हम आपकेज़रिए मंत्री साहब को देनाचाहते हैं । …(व्यवधान)

HON. CHAIRPERSON: No, it is not allowed. You can speak on the subject.

श्रीसय्यद ईमत्याज ज़लील: सर, अगर आप इजाज़त दें तो हम आपकेज़रिए स्वास्थ्य मंत्री जी को देना चाहते हैं, क्योंकि यह ज़हर बाज़ार के अन्दर खुलेआम बिक रहा है । …(व्यवधान)

HON. CHAIRPERSON: If you bring some items, then every hon. Member can bring items.

श्रीसय्यद ईमत्याज ज़लील: सर, ठीक है, हम नहीं देंगे । लेकिन अगर आपकी इजाज़त हो तो हम बाद में स्वास्थ्य मंत्री जी को देना चाहेंगे, ताकि इसकी जांच कराई जाए कि किस तरह से खुलेआम इस तरह का यह कारोबार बैन होने के बावजूद भी चल रहा है । …(व्यवधान)

HON. CHAIRPERSON: Hon. Member, you can personally meet the hon. Minister and explain to him.

SHRI SYED IMTIAZ JALEEL : All right, Sir. सर,मेरा यही कहना है कि आज आप ई-सिगरेट्स के ऊपर बैन ले कर आ जाएंगे और वह बिल पास भी हो जाएगा । लेकिन गुटखे के ऊपर बैन होने के बावजूद भी आज 51 मिलियन लोग गुटखा बड़ी आसानी से खरीद सकते हैं और खा रहे हैं । अब सवाल यह पैदा होता है अगर सिर्फ ई-सिगरेट जो सिर्फ छोटा सा एक कंपोनेंट है,इस ज़हर को आप निकालना चाह रहे हैं और बाकी पूरे ज़हर को रहने देना चाह रहे हैं, चाहे वह गुटखा हो, शराब हो,बाकी दूसरे जो ज़हर हों, बीड़ी हो सिगरेट हो । अभी-अभी एक सम्मानीय सदस्य ने कहा कि बीड़ी के ऊपर पूरा बैन कैसे ले कर आ सकते हैं, क्योंकि लाखों लोग इसकी खेती करते हैं । क्या इसका मतलब यह है कि उनको जिंदा रखने के लिए हम करोड़ों लोगों की जान का सौदा करें?सरकार के पास बहुत पैसा है,सरकार को कहना चाहिए कि बीड़ी फार्मिंग को कम किया जाए, हम रीहैबिलिटेट करेंगे ।

       महोदय, आज इत्तेफाक से हम संविधान दिवस मना रहे हैं । डॉ. बाबा साहब अंबेडकर जी ने जो दस मंत्र दिए थे, उनमें एक मंत्र यह भी था कि नशे से दूर रहो । हमने बाबा साहब की पुस्तक को तो अपना लिया है । लेकिन उनके इस मंत्र को नहीं अपनाया है । यह नशे का कारोबार इस मुल्क में बंद होना चाहिए ।

       महोदय, मैं महाराष्ट्र से आता हॅूं । वर्धा – जहां पर महात्मा गांधी जी का आश्रम है, वहां पर शराब नहीं मिलती है, वहां पर बैन कर दिया गया है । तो क्या बापू ने यह कहा था कि मेरा शहर जो होगा,मैं जहां पैदा हुआ हॅूं, मेरा आश्रम जहां है,वहां पर शराब नहीं मिलनी चाहिए,बाकी पूरे देश के अंदर शराब मिलनी चाहिए? यह किस तरह से सिलेक्टिव ओपिनियन अपना लेते हैं, सिलेक्टिव बिल्स ले कर आते हैं?

       महोदय, जब गुटखा बैन हुआ तो न जाने कितनी ऐसी इल्लिगल फैक्ट्रीज़ तैयार हो गई हैं । स्वास्थ्य मंत्री जी, मैं आपको बताना चाहूंगा कि दो महीने पहले मैंने औरंगाबाद शहर के अंदर पुलिस और प्रशासन को कहा था कि नौजवान नस्लों को बर्बाद करने वाला, यह नशे का करोबार बंद करना है, तो आप गुटखे का कारोबार पूरी तरह से यहां पर बंद कर दें । बंद तो नहीं हुआ, फिर एक दिन हमने कार्यकर्ताओं के साथ जा कर एक बड़े गुटखे के गोदाम पर रेड की । लाखों का गुटखा वहां पर मिला, फिर पुलिस ने आश्वासन दिया कि हम बंद कर देंगे । लेकिन नतीजा यह हुआ कि आज भी वहां गुटखा मिल रहा है और हो यह रहा है कि जो गुटखा व्यापारी वहां पर थे, जिस पुलिस स्टेशन को एक लाख रुपये हफ्ता देते थे,अब हमारा नाम दिखा कर, हमारा डर दिखा कर वह हफ्ता एक लाख रुपये की जगह पर दो लाख रुपये कर दिया है और गुटखा वैसे का वैसे चालू है ।

       महोदय, जब यह गुटखा मैं ले कर आ सकता हॅूं,तो क्या वजह है कि फूड एण्ड ड्रग्स एडमिनिस्ट्रेशन को नहीं पता चलता है, पुलिस को नहीं पता चलता है । सुप्रीम कोर्ट एक आदेश दे देता है कि केवल एफडीए ही इसके ऊपर कार्यवाही करेगा । यह फूड से रिलेटिड है,पुलिस से नहीं नहीं है । मेरा यही कहना है कि अगर आप कानून ले कर आ रहे हैं तो उसको लागू करने के लिए भी आपके पास एक मैकेनिज्म होना चाहिए, वर्ना हम लोग झूठे तरीके से अपनी पीठ थपथपाते रहेंगे कि देखो हमने गुटखे के ऊपर पांबंदी लगा दी है और आज हम इलैकिट्रॉनिक्स सिगरेट्स के ऊपर भी पाबंदी लगा देंगे । अगर उसका इम्पिलिमेंटेशन सही नहीं होगा,तो पीठ थपथपाने का कोई मतलब नहीं है ।

       धन्यवाद ।

 

श्री हनुमान बेनीवाल (नागौर):सभापति महोदय,ई-सिगरेट - उत्पादन, विनिर्माण,आयात-निर्यात,परिवहन, विक्रय,वितरण, भण्डारण व विज्ञापन (प्रतिषेध) विधेयक 2019 पर आपने मुझे बोलने का अवसर दिया है,इसके लिए मैं आपका धन्यवाद करता हॅूं ।

       मेरे से पूर्व वक्ताओं ने भी,पक्ष-विपक्ष के सभी लोगों ने नशे को ले कर बड़ी चिंता जाहिर की है । वर्ल्ड के अंदर सबसे ज्यादा नौजवान भारत के अंदर हैं । भारत की युवा पीढी नशे के अंदर, दिन-प्रति दिन जो प्रतिशत बताए गए हैं, वह नशा बढ़ता जा रहा है । 

मैं प्रधान मंत्री जी और मंत्री जी को धन्यवाद दूँगा । ई-सिगरेट जो एक बहुत बड़ा प्रचलन हो गया,शहरों के अंदर हुक्का बार, जिनका चलन था,उसके बाद सबसे ज्यादा नौजवान ई-सिगरेट का सेवन करते हैं,वह इस बात को नहीं समझ पा रहे हैं कि इसमें भी निकोटीन की मात्रा है । वे सोचते हैं कि यह सिगरेट से हट कर है, यह नुकसान नहीं करता । इसलिए नशे की प्रवृत्ति दिनोंदिन बढ़ती जा रही है । मैं इस विधेयक का समर्थन करता हूँ और इस विधेयक की पालना सुनिश्चित हो । इसके लिए केन्द्र सरकार राज्य सरकारों को भी पाबंद करें और समय-समय पर मॉनीटरिंग का सिस्टम होना चाहिए ।

सभापति महोदय,डब्ल्यूएचओ की रिपोर्ट के अनुसार ई-सिगरेट के घातक प्रभाव व युवाओं में बढ़ती लत, इससे होने वाले रोग, इनके मद्देनज़र यह बिल युवा-पीढ़ी के स्वास्थ्य को सुदृढ़ करने के उद्देश्य से सरकार लेकर आई है । विधेयक के उद्देश्यों व कारणों में बताया गया है कि वैश्विक समुदाय ने व्यक्तिगत व जन स्वास्थ्य पर इन नए उत्पादों के सम्भावित प्रभाव के बारे में चिंता की है । निश्चित तौर पर एक बड़ा कदम देश की सरकार ने उठाया । भारतीय आयुर्विज्ञान अनुसंधान परिषद ने ई-सिगरेट पर श्वेत पत्र जारी किया । आज संविधान दिवस मनाने जा रहे हैं । देश को प्रधान मंत्री जी ने, राष्ट्रपति जी ने, सब ने सम्बोधित किया और आह्वान भी किया कि किन परिस्थितियों के अंदर हमें आज़ादी मिली । आज़ादी मिलने के बाद जिस भारत की परिकल्पना,उस समय शहादत देने वाले हमारे शहीदों ने, उस समय आज़ादी के आंदोलन के अंदर स्वतंत्रता सेनानियों,नेताओं ने की थी, निश्चित रूप से वह अभी तक अधूरी है । मैं प्रधान मंत्री जी को धन्यवाद दूंगा कि भारत का मान विश्व के अंदर बढ़ाया । एक दिन में सारी तकलीफें दूर नहीं होतीं । मैं तो देखता हूँ कि किस-किस तरीके की सोच के साथ, किस-किस तरीके के नए बिल रोज़ आप लेकर आते हो और इस बिल को लाने के लिए मंत्री जी ने बहुत बड़ी मेहनत की होगी । हमारे देश में कॉलेज, यूनिवर्सिटीज के अंदर जो बच्चे पढ़ते हैं, उन बच्चों में इसका मैसेज भी जाएगा,एक रोक लगेगी और कड़ी कार्रवाई का संदेश जाएगा । मैं तो यह भी निवेदन करूँगा कि तम्बाकू पर प्रतिबंध लगना चाहिए । शराबबंदी के बारे में भी कई माननीय सदस्यों ने कहा । गुजरात सरकार ने गुजरात के अंदर शराबबंदी पहले से ही कर रखी है । यह देश भी चाहता है कि शराब मुक्त भारत हो, नशा मुक्त भारत हो और नशे की प्रवृत्ति का सबसे ज्यादा शिकार यदि कोई होता है, देखिए,रईस लोग जो होते हैं वह तो टाइम पास करने के लिए नशा करते हैं । उनका समय कैसे बीते, शाम को बार में चले जाएंगे या और कहीं चले जाएंगे, नशा कर लेंगे । महँगी दारू भी खरीद लेंगे,महंगी सिगरेट खरीद लेंगे । जो बार का विदेशी सामान है, वह भी उनको मिल जाएगा । लेकिन गरीब जो झुग्गी-झोपड़ी के अंदर रहने वाला आदमी है, वह समय व्यतीत करने के लिए बेवजह नशे की प्रवृत्ति के अंदर चला जाता है और उसके बाद वह नशे का आदी हो जाता है । नशा छूटता नहीं है, जैसे स्मैक का नशा है,कितना ही प्रयास कर लो, आप उसको अस्पताल के अंदर ले जाओ, जो स्मैकिया हो गया, नशेड़ी हो गया, वह स्मैक नहीं छोड़ता और कई नशे तो ऐसे हैं कि लोग पैसों के लिए अपने माँ-बाप को मारकर पैसा छीन कर भाग जाते हैं । ऐसी घटनाएँ भी इस देश के अंदर हुईं । सभापति महोदय,मेरा तो इसके अंदर एक ही निवेदन है । …(व्यवधान)

HON. CHAIRPERSON: Please address the Chair and come to the subject under discussion.

…( व्यवधान)

श्री हनुमान बेनीवाल : आपके उधर से कोई बोलने वाला है नहीं । आप सब तो खुशीमना रहे हो । महाराष्ट्र में जैसे आपका ही कोई मुख्य मंत्री बन रहा है । मैं दो-तीन मिनट लूँगा । सदन खाली पड़ा है । आपको हमें ज्यादा टाइम देना चाहिए । आधा घंटा बोलो और भाषणदो ।…(व्यवधान) * शायद सिगरेट पीने गए होंगे । कोई कह रहा था,मुझे नहीं पता,पीकर अब वापस आएंगे । सर, दो मिनट बोलने दीजिए । सभापति महोदय, संविधान के अनुच्छेद 47 के अंदर प्रधान मंत्री जी ने ध्यान आकर्षित किया ।

स्वास्थ्य के बारे में भी लिखा गया । पहले अध्यादेश के रूप में और अब बिल के रूप में आज देश की सरकार युवा पीढ़ी को नशे की लत से दूर करने के लिए कारगर कदम उठा रही है ।

       महोदय, मैं दो मिनट निवेदन करना चाहूँगा ।…(व्यवधान)थोड़ा जरूरी भी है ।…(व्यवधान)मैं एक-दो मिनट में अपनी बात समाप्त कर रहा हूँ ।…(व्यवधान)

       महोदय, आप देख लीजिए और उसके बाद मुझे बिठाइएगा । आप चारों तरफ नजर घुमाओ । मैं दो-तीन आंकड़े आपको बता देता हूँ । वर्ष 2015 में विश्व भर में ई-सिगरेट की एक हजार करोड़ डॉलर की बिक्री थी । 16 प्रदेशों ने इस पर पहले ही प्रतिबंध लगा रखा है । इंडियन काउंसिल ऑफ मेडिकल रिसर्च ने ई-सिगरेट पर प्रतिबंध लगाने की सिफारिश की । इस कानून के अंतर्गत अधिकतम तीन साल की सजा का प्रावधान किया गया है । यह स्वागत योग्य है,क्योंकि सजा का नाम सुनकर जो बच्चे ई-सिगरेट पी रहे हैं, वे इसे पीना छोड़ देंगे । विश्व भर में 30 से ज्यादा देशों ने इस पर प्रतिबंध लगा रखा है । स्वास्थ्य मंत्रालय पहले ही ऐसे उत्पादों पर प्रतिबंध लगा चुके हैं । प्रधान मंत्री जी इस मामले में बहुत चिंतित हैं, सरकार चिंतित है और हमारे स्वास्थ्य मंत्री जी इसके साथ-साथ पर्यावरण प्रदूषण को लेकर भी बहुत चिंतित हैं । मैं एक मिनट में अपनी बात समाप्त कर रहा हूँ । मंत्री जी लगातार इस दिशा में काम कर रहे हैं । आईसीएमआर के अनुसार अगर यही हालात बने रहे तो वर्ष 2020 तक भारत में 17 लाख नए कैंसर के मामले सामने आ सकते हैं ।

महोदय, हम सबको मिलकर भारत को बचाने के लिए सोचना होगा । मैं इस सरकार को धन्यवाद दूँगा । मैं एनडीए के सहयोगी दल के रूप में हूँ । हम लोग छात्र राजनीति से विधान सभा और लोक सभा के अंदर पहुँचे हैं । हमेशा नौजवान गलत दिशा की तरफ जाता है,तो इसमें सबसे बड़ी भूमिका कहीं न कहीं नशे की होती है । वह नशेड़ी बन जाता है, चाहे सिगरेट के माध्यम से हो, चाहे अफीम के माध्यम से हो, चाहे चरस, स्मैक,अभी जितनी चीजों के बारे में सभी लोगों ने यहाँ बताया   है । इसकी चिंता सरकार को करनी होगी कि हमारी युवा पीढ़ी को कैसे बचाया जाए । युवा पीढ़ी को बचाने के लिए मेरे हिसाब से तो भारत के अंदर अगर कोई क्रान्ति लेकर आया है, तो वह स्वच्छ भारत अभियान है । स्वच्छ भारत अभियान को माननीय प्रधान मंत्री जी लेकर आए । उससे पहले कांग्रेस वाले उसे नहीं लाए, क्या 50 साल से इन्हें इसे लाने के लिए किसी ने मना किया था । ये उसे क्यों नहीं लाए? अब अगर यह तय कर लेंगे कि नशा मुक्त भारत होना चाहिए, तो नशा मुक्त भारत हो जाएगा,क्योंकि देश का नौजवान प्रधान मंत्री जी के आह्वान का इंतजार कर रहा है कि प्रधान मंत्री जी क्या कह रहे हैं । मैं तो यह कहना चाहूँगा कि स्वच्छ भारत अभियान की तरह नशा मुक्त भारत अभियान भी इस देश के अंदर चलना चाहिए । प्रत्येक खेत को सिंचाई का पानी मिल रहा है । किसान, जवान और अब इनके बारे में सोचना होगा । अब इनके बारे में सोचने का समय आ गया है,क्योंकि हमारे जो दो मेन काम थे,धारा 370, 35ए और राम मंदिर, वे काम तो हो गए । अब जो बचे हुए काम हैं, उसमें किसान, नौजवान और जितने घोटाले लोगों ने कर दिए,उसमें उनकी जाँचें,जहाँ उनकी जगह है, उन्हें वहाँ ले जाकर फिट करना, कई लोग  आराम कर रहे हैं ।

माननीयसभापति:हमारा विषय ई-सिगरेट है ।

श्री हनुमान बेनीवाल: महोदय, मैं बिल के साथ-साथ देश पर भी आऊँगा । मैं केवल बिल पर थोड़े ही बोलूँगा । मुझे बोलते हुए लाखों लोग देख रहे हैं कि हनुमान बेनीवाल बोल रहा है । हनुमान बैनिवाल बोल रहा है, तो फिर वह उस बात को भी बोलेगा ।…(व्यवधान)हाँ, पूरा देश सुन रहा है ।

       इस बिल के साथ-साथ मैं माननीय मंत्री जी से अपनी तरफ से विशेष निवेदन यह भी करूँगा कि हम नौजवानों के अंदर और ज्यादा जागरूकता लेकर आएं ताकि नशे की प्रवृत्ति से हिन्दुस्तान का नौजवान दूर रहे ।

माननीयसभापति : आपके दस मिनटहो गए हैं ।

श्री हनुमान बेनीवाल: आप ई-सिगरेट को बंद कर रहे हो । उसके बाद सिगरेट,बीड़ी और जितने भी इस तरह के तंबाकू उत्पाद हैं, इन सब पर रोक लगाकर एक नया संदेश देश के अंदर दें । आपका बहुत-बहुत धन्यवाद ।

माननीयसभापति : हनुमान जी, गुड स्पीच ।

 

SHRI K. NAVASKANI (RAMANATHAPURAM): Sir, thank you very much for giving me an opportunity to speak on this important Bill. The fact is that tobacco consumption, either by chewing or by smoking, compromises on the health and economic well-being of all citizens – children, youth, men and women – in the country. Its use presents dangerous consequences for everyone.  Use of both smoking and smokeless tobacco causes many forms of cancers leading to early and painful deaths of users in their productive years.  It is, therefore, critical to raise awareness to help reduce its use to protect the health of people.

       According to the World Health Organisation, tobacco kills more than seven million people each year.  Over six million deaths are a result of its direct consumption, whereas 8,90,000 deaths are the result of passive smoking.  Nearly 100 million premature deaths have been recorded in the 20th century and the figure is set to increase to one billion by the 21st century.  Smoking kills over one million people in India annually and is the fourth leading cause of non-communicable diseases such as cancer and heart diseases which account for 53 per cent of all deaths in India.

       I would like to convey my thanks to the hon. Minister who has brought this Bill for banning electronic cigarettes in India and this step will protect the future of the youth of our country.

       I appreciate your stand to ban e-cigarettes, but, at the same time, we strongly feel it defies logic, taking into consideration the surprising move of not touching the regular cigarettes and other tobacco products.  I would like to make a request to the hon. Minister to kindly ban all types of smoking and tobaccos in India for the better future of our youth.

       On my own behalf and on behalf of my constituents, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the hon. Health Minister, Dr. Harsh Vardhan ji for granting permission to start Government Medical College in Ramanathapuram district which was a long-standing demand.

 

DR. (PROF.) MAHENDRA MUNJAPARA (SURENDRANAGAR): Thank you, Sir, for giving me an opportunity to speak in support of the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Bill, 2019. 

       A variety of devices are currently sold in the international market that deliver nicotine and other chemicals with flavours by electronically heating materials containing nicotine, so-called, e-cigarettes. These devices are marketed as substitutes for cigarette cessation tools for chronic cigarette smokers.

       Now, coming to the natural history of smoking, first of all, I would like to explain about natural history of smoking in India. It has been known that since, at least, 2000 BC, cannabis or bhang was smoked for medicinal purpose; that was written in Atharvaveda. History also suggested that tobacco leaf containing nicotine was introduced to Columbus by native Americans and then its addiction rapidly spread to Europe.  In India, tobacco was introduced in the 17th century by Portuguese but its use became more popular since the 20th century.

       To save youth of India today, we have to take steps so that people do not make another movie, ‘Udta India’ after making the movie ‘Udta Punjab’.  It is because WHO has observed that e-cigarettes are heavily marketed towards the youth aged between 15 years and 24 years by adding flavouring agents on promotional strategies. Through e-cigarette device, there is a risk of use of other psychotropic substances also that are harmful physically and mentally.

       The WHO and ICMR reports on suggestive use of e-cigarettes may cause negative impact on human health because it produces significant toxic substances and carcinogens.  When tobacco burns, in addition to nicotine, more than 7000 other compounds are produced resulting from volatilization, pyrolysis and pyrosynthesis. 

       Now, I come to the health effects arising out of smoking e-cigarettes.  Nicotine is an addictive component which may cause long-term consequences in brain development of youth like difficulty in paying attention during learning at school and anxiety disorder.  Recently, a nicotine-induced seizure case was reported in Goa.

       Tobacco smoking may cause cancer of the lungs, oral cavity, gastro-intestine tract, genito-urinary tract, blood cancer, acute mild leukemia, breast cancer in female, in respiratory system, COPD and popcorn lungs, in cardio-vascular system, coronary arteries and heart attack, cerebrovascular accident, aortic aneurysm, in pregnant women, spontaneous labour, pre-term delivery, high perinatal mortality rate, and in infants, infant respiratory distress syndrome, low birth weight; and sudden infant death syndrome were noticed.    

       Although in India, prevalence of e-cigarette smoking is very low but recently in Delhi, 150 vaping devices of e-cigarettes were found in school bags during the surprise check in one school. 

       Now, what is the necessity of prohibiting e-cigarettes?  At present, 42 countries have banned e-cigarette because it has highly addictive nature of the nicotine and has the risk of misuse by youth by adding other psycho-active substances with regular liquids. E-cigarettes may be seen as substitutes to traditional cigarettes but young people may use the more harmful forms of nicotine or other forms of harmful substances.  No conclusive evidence has been found that the use of e-cigarette has effective tobacco cessation.  There has been no evidence of having benefit and relief to chronic smokers by using e-cigarette. Economical burden has increased on the nation and on the families. 

So, in the end, while concluding, I support the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Bill, 2019.

Thank you, Sir.

     

ADV. DEAN KURIAKOSE (IDUKKI): Thank you Sir, for giving me this opportunity.  I will not take much time because almost all the points are covered. We should be proud because we have the world’s largest youth population. Our youth are innovators, creators and leaders of the future but they can perform only if they have education skills and good health. 

Unfortunately, a large portion of our youth are addicted to alcohol, drugs and tobacco products which has the capacity to destroy their future.  E-cigarette companies are claiming that they are alternative to tobacco products but the research reports show that they increase the possibility of tobacco addiction as well as induce long-term health problems. The long-term use of e-cigarettes can contribute to lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases etc. I pledge my full support to the Government’s initiative to bring a moratorium on such products considering the health of the people especially, our youth.  However, I cannot understand the Government’s intention to ban only e-cigarettes while all other tobacco products are still being manufactured and used by the public. On what grounds, did the Government take this decision? Was it concerned with the health of the people?  If so, is it not imperative to ban all tobacco products in the country and not just e-cigarettes?  I ask this because when I heard the ban, the first thing that came to my mind was whether this decision is taken for the well-being of the public or for the benefit of traditional cigarette companies whose business incurred a severe dent due to the tough competition from e-cigarettes?

Sir, India is the second largest consumer of tobacco globally and accounts for approximately one-sixth of the world’s tobacco-related deaths.  The use of tobacco not only creates health hazards but also have a negative impact on education, economy and environment. Hence, the tobacco cessation service and measures for effective tobacco control must be discussed seriously. 

       This epidemic can be resolved by creating awareness among the public about the devastating effects of tobacco and to bring legislation to ban all tobacco products. While participating in this debate, I urge the Government to ban all tobacco products along with e-cigarettes thereby paving the way towards a tobacco free healthy India. Thank you, Sir.                                                                                                              

 

SHRI P. RAVEENDRANATH  KUMAR (THENI): Sir, thank you for the opportunity to speak on the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Bill, 2019.

       While welcoming this Bill, I appreciate the hon. Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan who has piloted this Bill. The aim of this Bill is to protect the people, especially the youth, from the harmful effects of e-cigarettes which produce aerosol by heating a solution containing nicotine and thereby e-cigarette increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases among human beings, irrespective of the age factor.

       This Bill seeks to prohibit the production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement of electronic cigarettes, including all forms of ‘electronic nicotine delivery system’, ‘heat-not burn products’, ‘e-hookah’, etc.        Upon promulgation of this Ordinance, any production, manufacturing, import, export, sale, distribution or advertisement of e-cigarettes shall be treated as cognizable offence, punishable with an imprisonment of up to one year or fine up to Rs.1 lakh or both for the first offence and imprisonment of up to three years and fine up to Rs. 5 lakh for the subsequent offence.

       This Bill allows law enforcement agencies to search premises for e-cigarettes and vaping devices without a warrant, and storage of electronic cigarettes shall also be punishable with an imprisonment of up to six months or fine up to Rs.50,000 or both.

       The World Health Organization has also urged its member-countries to take appropriate steps, including prohibiting these products, and so far, 30 countries have banned e-cigarettes.

       One of my colleague-Members from the BJP, Varun Gandhi Ji beautifully spoke in detail about this Bill and replied to the Members of the Opposition also. I want to tell one thing. My colleague-Member from my State of Tamil Nadu, while speaking, referred to the name of our State Health Minister. It is against the rules of this House. So, I request you to remove that part of his speech. He also made a wrong and false statement. The Health Minister knows very well that our Health Department in Tamil Nadu, is the first to implement all the schemes of the Central Government. We got the Central Government’s award also for giving world-class health facilities and successfully implementing the Central Government’s schemes effectively in the State of Tamil Nadu.

       Also, in this House, my colleague-Members have asked why this Government is not banning the tobacco products. They speak one thing inside this House and when they go out, they speak a different thing. When they change the place and speak before the public, they say that this Government is against the poor tobacco workers. They are having a dual face. So, they should change this. Our hon. Prime Minister, Narendra Modi Ji, is taking our ‘New India Mission to ‘Clean India’ and then to ‘Tobacco Free India’ also. So, slowly, I think this Government will surely ban tobacco in the future.

       Finally, apart from these things, in the overall interest of public health as envisaged under article 47 of the Constitution of India, the decision has been taken by our hon. Minister to prohibit e-cigarettes. Thank you for saving our young generation.

Also, I am thankful to him for bringing the AIIMS Hospital to Madurai and also for giving permission to start six medical colleges in the State of Tamil Nadu. Thank you.

                        

20.00 hrs श्रीजगदम्बिकापाल (डुमरियागंज): अधिष्ठाता महोदय, मैं आपका अत्यंत आभारी हूं कि आपने दि प्रोविजन ऑफ इलेक्ट्रोनिक्स सिगरेट प्रोडक्शन,मैन्युफ्रेक्चर,इम्पोर्ट-एक्सपोर्ट,ट्रांसपोर्ट,सेल, डिस्ट्रीब्यूशन,स्टोरेज एंड एडवर्टिजमेंट, 2019 बिल पर चर्चा में बोलने का अवसर दिया है । सौभाग्य से कांग्रेस के नेता श्री अधीर रंजन चौधरी जी भी आ गए हैं । जब हमारी सरकार ने अध्यादेश जारी किया तो उसको डिसएप्रूव करने के लिए आज ये स्टेटुचरी रिजोल्यूशन लेकर आए हैं । वह खुद विद्वान हैं । वह कह रहे थे कि ऐसी कौन सी अर्जेंसी थी कि अध्यादेश लाने की जरूरत पड़ी, जब सदन सत्र में है तब बिल आएगा । मैं समझता हूं कि अर्जेंसी अगर किसी की जिन्दगी से जुड़ा हुआ है तो यह हमारी आने वाली जेनरेशन से जुड़ा है । वह एक आंकड़ा दे रहे थे कि 0.02 परसेंट  लोग ही भारत में सिगरेट पीते हैं । मैं कहता हूं कि  0.02 परसेंट भी है तो इनकी संख्या लाखों में होगी । अगर सरकार को किसी एक नौनिहाल बच्चे जो हिन्दुस्तान में एक नागरिक बन कर देश और दुनिया के लिए भी कुछ भी योगदान कर सकता है, अगर उसकी जिन्दगी सिगरेट की लत से खराब है तो उस एक बच्चे को बचाना भी हमारे लिए कीमती है । हम उसी के लिए अध्यादेश लेकर आए हैं । मुझे लगता है कि आखिर इस अध्यादेश को लाने की जरूरत क्यों पड़ी?

       दुनिया में दो प्रतिष्ठित आर्गेनाइजेशन्स हैं । अगर विश्व स्तर पर देखें तो वर्ल्ड हेल्थ आर्गेनाइजेशन और भारत के स्तर आईसीएमआर, इडियन काउन्सिल ऑफ मेडिकल रिसर्च है ।   आज इंडियन काउन्सिल ऑफ मेडिकल रिसर्च भारत की सबसे प्रतिष्ठित संस्था है, जो देश में साइंस के क्षेत्र में लोगों के जीवन और स्वास्थ के क्षेत्र में शोध करती है और शोध करने के बाद निष्कर्ष सरकार को देती है । जिस पर सरकार अमल-दरामद कर सके । उस आईसीएमआर की रिपोर्ट ने एक श्वते पत्र जारी किया है जिसमें इलेक्ट्रोनिक निकोटिन डिलेवरी सिस्टम जिसको ईएनडीएस कहते हैं, उस सिस्टम के लिए आईसीएमआर ने सिफारिश की कि इस पर बैन करो ।

भारत में साइंस पर शोध करने वाली संस्था है और उसने कहा कि इस पर तत्काल प्रतिबंध लगाया जाना चाहिए । अगर उस संबंध में माननीय मंत्री जी और सरकार विधेयक लेकर आई है तो निश्चित तौर से पूरा सदन उनको बधाई देता है कि उन्होंने कम से कम देश के उन युवाओं और देश के नौनिहालों को बचाने का काम किया । वर्ल्ड हेल्थ आर्गेनाइजेशन ने कहा,डब्ल्यूएचओ फ्रेमवर्क कन्वेंशन एंड टुबैको कंट्रोल, 2003 ने परामर्श देकर इसे प्रोहिबट और बैन करने के लिए कहा, यही बात आईसीएमआर और डब्ल्यूएचओ ने भी कही । दुनिया की सबसे प्रतिष्ठित वर्ल्ड हेल्थ आर्गेनाइजेशन और भारत की प्रतिष्ठित संस्था आईसीएमआर दोनों ने कहा है,इसमें जल्दी क्या है? मैं समझता हूं कि हमारी सरकार संवेदनशील है । हमारे तमाम वक्ताओं ने कहा कि आज हम संविधान दिवस मना रहे हैं । संविधान दिवस मनाते हैं तो क्या संकल्प लेते हैं?भारत के संविधान के प्रति हमारी सरकार की प्रतिबद्धता होगी, हर नागरिक की प्रतिबद्धता होगी, हमारा डेडीकेशन होगा । कान्स्टीट्यूशन में डायरेक्टिव प्रिंसिपल ऑफ स्टेट पॉलिसी है, नीति निर्देशक तत्व हैं । अधीर रंजन जी, मान लीजिए आर्टिकल 19, 20 और 21 फंडामेंटल राइटस न हो जो हमारे लिए मेनडेटरी हो,डायरेक्टिव प्रिंसिपल ऑफ स्टेट पॉलिसी दी गई है । यह माना जाता है कि सरकारे चाहे केन्द्र की हो या राज्य की हो,नीति निर्देशक तत्व जो देश और समाज के हित में होंगे, सरकार उस पर कार्य करेगी । मैं आज आपको इस बात के लिए बधाई देना चाहता हूं । आज  डॉयरेक्टिव स्टेट ऑफ प्रिंसिपल पॉलिसी पर जो विधेयक आया है उसी नीति निर्देशक तत्व के सिद्धांतों पर आज संविधान दिवस के दिन विधेयक आया है, यह निश्चित रूप से अपने आप में ऐतिहासिक दिवस है ।

 

आर्टिकल 47 में क्या है? आपने खुद भी पढ़ा है, लेकिन शायद आखिर की लाइनें नहीं पढ़ीं । As per Article 47 of the Indian Constitution (Directive Principles of State Policy) - मैं इसे पूरा नहीं पढ़ना चाहता हूं, आखिरी लाइन पढ़ रहा हूं - the State shall endeavour to bring about prohibition of the consumption except for medicinal purposes of intoxicating drinks and of drugs which are injurious to health. डायरेक्टिव प्रिंसिपल ऑफ स्टेट पालिसीज़ के आर्टिकल 47 में लिखा हुआ है । …(Interruptions)

SHRI ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY (BAHARAMPUR): You have rightly said that today is the Constitution Day and 70 years of Constitution Day are being celebrated today. The Preamble of the Constitution says ‘We, the People of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic and to ensure for its citizens justice, liberty, equality and fraternity….’. On this day, the 26th November of 1949, we embodied, enacted and gave to ourselves this Constitution. इक्वेटी,लिबर्टी की बात जब होती है, तो हम जस्टिस की बात करते हैं और कुछ नहीं करते हैं ।

HON. CHAIRPERSON : Shri Adhirji, you can give the reply when your turn comes.

       Shri Jagdambika Palji, please continue. Your time is passing. …(Interruptions)

श्रीजगदम्बिकापाल : हम आपके concern को समझ रहे हैं । …(Interruptions)

HON. CHAIRPERSON: You come to the subject please. We have no time.

श्रीजगदम्बिकापाल : मैं केवल सब्जैक्ट पर बोल रहा हूं ।

I am very thankful to you. I am confining myself to this particular subject. It was mentioned that as per the Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2016-17, approximately three per cent of adults in India were aware of e-cigarettes and there were only 0.02 per cent e-cigarette users. यह नहीं बताया गया कि तीन परसेंट लोग हैं या 0.02 परसेंट हैं, वे किस उम्र के हैं ।  He has not mentioned the age group of those who are using the e-cigarettes. You will be surprised and shocked to find that आज15 साल के बच्चे ई-सिगरेट पी रहे हैं, निश्चित रूप से फ्यूचर जनरेशन खराबहो रही है ।

       मैं आपको बताना चाहता हूं कि यह किस तेजी से बढ़ रहा है । महताब जी यहांहैं, पहले चेयरपर थे, उन्होंने कहा कि आप समझते हैं कि यह संख्या आज कम है, but every year, a very rapid increase is taking place and school-going children – middle school and high school – are using e-cigarettes. उन्होंने चिंता व्यक्त की है ।

       For instance, the percentage of youth using e-cigarettes in the USA has increased from 1.5 per cent in 2011 to 20.8 per cent in 2018. अगर यह 1.5 परसेंट से कुछ सालों में 20.8 परसेंट बढ़ सकताहै तो भारत में भी देखने की जरूरत पड़ेगी कि भारतमें ई-सिगरेट 26.4 परसेंट हर साल बढ़ रही है ।

       पहले भारत में ई-सिगरेट का बाजार छोटाथा, यहकिस तेजी से बढ़ रहा है । वर्ष 2017 में देश में 107 करोड़ रुपये का व्यापार था और 2022 तक 60 परसेंट इज़ाफा हुआ है ।

HON. CHAIRPERSON: You are making valid points, but we have time constraint.

SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL (DOMARIYAGANJ): Sir, please allow me.

       Sir, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, says that 80 per cent of the patients affected are younger than 35 years – I want to bring this very serious thing to the notice of the House – and all report using e-cigarettes, many with tetrahydrocannabinol.

The US Food and Drugs Administration estimates that nearly 3.62 million students in middle and high schools were using e-cigarettes in 2018. Besides this, it estimates that between 2017 and 2018, e-cigarette use saw an increase of 78 per cent among high school students and 48 per cent among middle school students. It is a matter of grave concern for us, at least for this august House.

अगर ये आदत सबसे ज्यादा बच्चों में बढ़ रही है तो आखिर कौन इस भारत के भविष्य को संभालेगा । मैं समझता हूं कि अगर संविधान दिवस पर इसकी चिंता भारत के प्रधान मंत्री श्री नरेन्द्र मोदी जी और स्वास्थ्य मंत्री जी ने की है तो निश्चित तौर पर यह अपने-आप में स्वागत-योग्य होगा  । E-cigarettes registered about 26 billion dollar sales worldwide which is as per American behavioural scientist, Suchitra Krishnan Sarin, is expected to double in next six years. तो अगले छ: सालों में किस तरह से बढ़ेगा । In the United States of America the e-cigarette usage among the school students increased by up to 900 per cent, that is 3.6 million students in US alone. आज भारत की जो स्थिति है, मैं भारत के बारे में भी कहना चाहता हूं । According to India Today report, e-cigarettes worth 1,91,781 dollars were imported to India between 2016-17 and 2018-19.

अगर भारत में भी 1 लाख 91 हजार 781 डॉलर की ई-सिगरेट इम्पोर्ट हुई है तो निश्चित तौर से यह अपने आप में एक खतरनाक स्थिति है । अगर मैं कहता हूं कि भारत सरकार ने एक एडवाइजरी जारी की और अगर 16 राज्यों ने ई-सिगरेट अपने यहां बंद की है तो हम नेशनल लेवल पर अब कानून नहीं बनाएंगे तो कब बनाएंगे? आज इसकी जरुरत है, क्योंकि हमारे तमाम सदस्यों ने  16 राज्यों में ई-सिगरेट की खतरनाक परिस्थितियों के बारे में कहा है । इस संबंध में मैं बहुत कुछ दोहराना नहीं चाहता हूं । आज केन्द्र के स्तर पर पूरे देश में ई-सिगरेट के ट्रांसपोर्टेशन और स्टोरेज के बारे में बिल आया है । आज हमारे कांग्रेस के नेता को भी निश्चित तौर पर कहना चाहिए कि अगर पश्चिम बंगाल में इस पर बैन नहीं है, तो वहां भी बैन होना चाहिए । यह पश्चिम बंगाल में कैसे बैन होगा? …(व्यवधान) अगर वहां सिगरेट बैन हो जाएगी,तो आप कैसे पिएंगे ।

HON. CHAIRPERSON: Hon. Member, let him complete. He is going to conclude.

SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL: I will take only five or ten minutes.  I will not take more time than that.

HON. CHAIRPERSON: You have to conclude within a minute.

SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL: I will not take more than ten minutes.

HON. CHAIRPERSON: Other Members are there to speak.

SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL (DOMARIYAGANJ): I am putting forth only the reports. I would like to draw your attention to this fact. I am talking about the estimated incidence of lung cancer in India. मैं इंडिया की बात कर रहा हूं । मैं पूरी दुनिया की बात नहीं कर रहा हूं । मैं माननीय मंत्री जी से जरूर अपेक्षा करूंगा, ई-सिगरेट के बारे में अभी इस तरह के मार्केट की कोई रिपोर्ट नहीं है । दूसरे कंट्रीज़ की जो रिपोर्ट्स या सर्वे हैं, हम उनके आधार पर इसकी गंभीरता के बारे में सोच रहे हैं । Even in our country, the incidence of lung cancer was 70,275 in all ages and in both sexes. स्वाभविक है कि अगर इस तरीके से, चाहे वह लंग्स का मामला हो या जिस तरीके से, The overall estimated lung cancer mortality rate in India in 2012 was 63,759 making it the third most common cause of cancer-related mortality in India after breast and cervical cancer.

HON. CHAIRPERSON: Come to the last point.

श्रीजगदम्बिकापाल : मैं आपसे कहना चाहूंगा कि अगर आज ई-सिगरेट की डेफिनिशन आ जाए, लोग कहते हैं कि यह खतरनाक है, क्योंकि ई-सिगरेट के अंदर निकोटिन है । लोगों ने कहा कि जिस तरीके से इसको पोपुलराइज किया गया, मैं केवल इसको डिफाइन करना चाहता हूं । E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices that heat a substance, which may contain nicotine and other chemicals, to create vapour for inhalation. Usually, e-cigarettes are shaped like conventional tobacco products, such as cigarettes, cigars or hookahs, but they also take the form of everyday items such as pens and USB memory sticks. Unlike traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes do not contain tobacco. Note that, as of 2015, the global market for e-cigarette industry was estimated as 10 billion US dollars.

इस तरह से आज यदि हम कह रहे हैं कि यह समस्या है तो मैं समझता हूं कि इस सदन को सर्वसम्मति से इस विधेयक को पारित करना चाहिए और जो संशोधन आए हैं, उन्हें भी वापिस लेना चाहिए । यदि अध्यादेश आया और निश्चित रूप से सत्र नहीं चल रहा था लेकिन ई-सिगरेट के घातक परिणामों को देखते हुए क्योंकि दुनिया के 30 देशों ने भी इसे बैन किया है, 98 कंट्रीज ने रेगुलेट करने की कोशिश की है ।…(व्यवधान)

HON. CHAIRPERSON: Please conclude now. You have made a very valid point. You are a senior Member.

श्रीजगदम्बिकापाल : मैं इस विधेयक का समर्थन करता हूं ।

 

श्रीजसबीरसिंह गिल (खडूर साहिब) : सभापति जी, आज आपने मुझे प्रोहिबिशन ऑफ ई-सिगरेट के विषय पर बोलने का मौका दिया, इसके लिए मैं आपका आभारी हूं । भारत में स्मोकिंग करना एक बहुतबड़ी बीमारी, एपिडेमिक बन चुकीहै । भारत के अंदरऔरतों और छोटे बच्चों में जो नया रुझान आया है, वह स्मोकिंग करने का रुझान है । यह हमारे लिए खतरे की घंटीहै । आज स्मोकिंग एक स्टाइल स्टेटमेंट बन गया है । आज स्मोकिंग एक स्टेटस सिम्बल बन गया है । सभी जगह पार्टीज में, होटल्स में एक नए तरीके से लोग महंगी से महंगी सिगार या सिगरेट को दिखाते हुए पीते हैं और अपनारुतबा बढ़ाते हैं । मेरा मानना है कि चाहे स्ट्रोक लेफ्ट साइड आए या राइट साइड आए, स्ट्रोक तो स्ट्रोक ही है । ई-सिगरेट की स्मोकिंग भी खतरनाक है और नार्मल सिगरेट भी डेंजरस है । अमरीका या दूसरे देशों में सिगरेट कम्पनीज, इंश्योरेंस कम्पनीज या फार्मास्यूटिकल कम्पनीज हैं, ये उनकी पालिसी बनाने में बहुत बड़ा रोल अदा करती हैं । कहीं ये तो नहीं कि नार्मल सिगरेट वालों की यह पालिसी हो या जो इनके प्रैशर ग्रुप्स हैं, कहीं वे हमसेऐसा तो नहीं करा रहे हैं कि ई-सिगरेट बंद कर दो और दूसरी सिगरेट बंद न करो ।मेरा मानना है कि यह एक टाइमपर नहीं हो सकताहै । हम अपने किसानों के हितों को भी नहीं छोड़ सकते, लेकिन अपने लोगों को भी बीमारियों से दूर रखना है, तो मेरा कहना है कि सबसे पहला स्टेप इसके बाद जो होनाचाहिए, वहयह होना चाहिए कि जो इम्पोर्टेड सिगरेट आती है, जिसकी कीमत एक-एक डिब्बी की पांच-पांच सौ रुपये या हजाररुपये होती है, उसे रोकना चाहिए । यदि हम किसीएग्रीमेंट की वजह से उनको नहीं रोक पाते हैं । तो क्यों नहींहम उन पर एक्साइज ड्यूटी इतनी कर दें, जिससे सरकार को रेवेन्यु भी आएगाऔर हमारे लोग इम्पोर्टेड सिगरेट भी कम पिएंगे । जितने भी तम्बाकू प्रोडक्ट्स हैं, चाहे वह चैनी-खैनी हो, चाहे जर्दा हो या कुछ भी हो, इनके ऊपर जो भी टैक्स है, वह डबल ही नहींबल्कि ट्रिपल भी कर दो, तो कोई गलत बात नहीं है । Government will get the revenue औरलोग भी इससेडिस्करेज होंगे ।

       महोदय, लोगों में स्मोकिंग की ऐसी एडिक्शन हो गई है कि लोग सुबह उठकर जब तक दो-तीन सिगरेट नहीं पी लेतेहैं, तब तक फ्रेश नहीं हो पातेहैं । यह बिलकुल सही बात है । मेरी आपसे रिक्वेस्ट है कि आप एक ऐसी स्ट्रेटेजी बनाइए क्योंकि आहिस्ता-आहिस्ता हमें लोगों को इससेदूर ले जाना है । यह देश के स्वास्थ्य का, देश के युवाके स्वास्थ्य का मसलाहै ।

       महोदय, एक और मसलाहै और आप सभी भी मेरे साथ सहमत होंगे कि थोड़ेदिन पहले हमारे महामहिम, हमारे प्रधान मंत्री श्री नरेन्द्र मोदी जी, हमारे स्पीकर ओम बिरला जी श्री गुरुनानक साहब के जश्नपर डेरा बाबा नानक गए थे । वहां जो इंटीग्रेटेड चैक पोस्ट बनी है, यहां से जो यात्री पाकिस्तान की तरफ गुरुद्वारे में जाते हैं, वहां मैंने अपनी आंखों से देखाहै ।

वहां ऑफिसर्स बहुत दुर्व्यवहार करते हैं । हमारे लोग वहां एक निश्चय के साथ,श्रद्धा के साथ उस पार जाने की कोशिश करते हैं,तो वे उसी इंटीग्रेटेड चेक पोस्ट पर सिगरेट पी रहे होते हैं, which is not done. वे ऑफिसर्स दुर्व्यवहार करते हैं, बुरा बोलते हैं, रूडली बोलते हैं ।

       सर, दूसरी बात यह है कि हम 100 ग्राम से कम प्रसाद गुरुद्वारा साहेब से लेकर आते हैं, वे उसको कुत्तों को सुंघाते हैं कि यह प्रसाद है या कुछ और तो नहीं है । सिख, जिन्होंने देश की आजादी में सबसे ज्यादा कुर्बानियां दीं, वर्ष 1962, वर्ष 1965 और वर्ष 1971 की लड़ाई में सबसे ज्यादा कुर्बानियां दीं,उन्होंने सबसे ज्यादा सरहदों की रक्षा की, आज उनकी जज्बातों को, श्रद्धा को ठेस पहुंचाई जा रही है, हमें यह कदाचित भी बर्दाश्त नहीं है । कृपा करके उनको समझाया जाए, कुत्तों को प्रसाद न सुंघाया जाए और जाने वाले यात्रियों से रूडली बात नही की जाए । धन्यवाद ।

*SHRI M. SELVARAJ (NAGAPATTINAM) : Hon. Chairman Sir, Vanakkam. I thank you for this opportunity for allowing me to speak on this Bill to prohibit e-cigarettes. This Bill has been brought to ensure the welfare of future generation, particularly the student community. I want to register that, particularly, from where we got this smoking habit inculcated in us. British ruled us before we got Independence. The British introduced us the habit of drinking tea or smoking cigarettes in order to have a relaxation between work schedule. The use of such toxic substances affected the society at large. Unending effect of such evil practices continue to exist even today. Particularly, the use of tobacco products, cigarette, gutka, etc. cause diseases like cancer, heart ailments, kidney failure and other diseases. When you go to a Doctor for treatment of having high or low BP, he would ask whether you have the smoking habit. If you go to a Nephrologist for consultation, he will ask about whether you consume alcohol. Doctors when consulted will definitely enquire about smoking or consuming alcohol or using tobacco or gutka. Today we are discussing about e-cigarettes. I have never seen e-cigarette or know how will it look like. I heard the speeches of Hon. MPs here in this august House on this Bill. My point is that while talking about banning e-cigarettes, we should also try to ban tobacco products, cigarettes, gutka, heroin and other substances of abuse. The Government has not tried to bring a comprehensive Bill to ban these products. I have a doubt in my mind. While bring in a Bill to ban e-cigarettes, why cannot you bring a bill to ban use of tobacco, cigarettes, gutka etc? There should be a monitoring Group at the district level to inspect the products possessed by the shopkeepers. This Bill states that an Officer of the rank of Sub-Inspector will be put on job to monitor the use or sale of toxic substance, if any. The monitoring groups to be set up at the district level should identify the defaulters and ensure punishment of up to 3 years of imprisonment or impose a fine of Rs1 lakh. This law should be implemented in true letter and spirit. The officials who enforce this law should be on their toes. Moreover, small shop keepers should never be harassed by the officials at any point of time. In the name of inspection, shopkeepers should never be made to face difficulties. They should never try to damage the products or material stored in small shops. Necessary action should be taken to ban such activities. With a word of caution, I want to say that small shop keepers should not be made to face harassment in any form in the name of inspection. The Government should make efforts to address this pertinent issue. Advertisements were issued in newspapers or television channels or websites and at the same time, when we watch television channels, on one side you can witness advertisements discouraging use of cigarettes, but on the other side scenes depicting or portraying smoking and drinking alcohol are also shown on television. Smoking causes cancer. Advertisements are shown on television in this regard. At the same time, films encouraging use of cigarettes are also shown. How can you control the minds of youngsters? What they see or watch through these feature films is portrayal of the use of cigarettes. Government should therefore bring a Bill to ban drinking alcohol, smoking cigarette, etc. Hon. Union Minister of Health has circulated a letter to all MPs about the eradication of Tuberculosis. I thank Hon. Union Minister for Health Dr. Harsh Vardhan for such an initiative. At the time of introduction of the National Medical Commission Bill during last Session of Lok Sabha, I requested to set up a medical college in Nagappattinam. Now permission has been granted for setting up a medical college in my constituency in Phase II. I request the Hon Minister to do the needful for setting  up this Medical College in my Nagappattinam parliamentary constituency under Phase I instead of Phase II.

Thank you.                                         

 

श्री जनार्दन मिश्र (रीवा):माननीय सभापति जी, आपने इस महत्वपूर्ण बिल पर मुझे बोलने की अनुमति दी,इसके लिए आपका बहुत-बहुत धन्यवाद ।

       महोदय,इस बिल पर कहा गया कि अध्यादेश लाने की क्या आवश्यकता थी । एक एडवाइजरी पर, जिस बिल को सोलह राज्यों ने समर्थन दिया हो, उसके जनमत का स्वत: पता लगता है । इस वजह से इतने व्यापक समर्थन वाले विषय पर अगर अध्यादेश लाकर सरकार ने बच्चों का जीवन बचाने का प्रयास किया है, तो उस पर प्रश्न उठाने का कोई औचित्य नहीं रह जाता है ।

       जब मैंने पहली बार सुना कि कोई ऐसी सिगरेट आई है, जिससे सिगरेट पीनी छूट जाएगी, तो विश्वास नहीं हुआ कि नशे से नशा कैसे छूटेगा । लेकिन धीरे-धीरे जब इसके बारे में पता चला,तो लगा कि यह कालिया नाग का वह फन है, जो सबसे पहले हमारे बच्चों को डँसेगा । सिगरेट युवा लोग और कॉलेज के दिनों में कभी-कभी हम लोग पीते थे । वह छूट गई,पता ही नहीं चला कि वह कैसे छूट गई । लेकिन बच्चे सामान्य सिगरेट को घर में नहीं पी सकते हैं,उनके लिए बड़ी मुसीबत है । लेकिन यह जो ई-सिगरेट आई है, वह बच्चों का काल बनकर आई है । बच्चे भी इसको सरलता से पीएंगे ।

       जो आँकड़े आए हैं, सभी विद्धान सदस्यों ने विभिन्न प्रकार के आँकड़े दिए हैं,उनमें एक तथ्य,जो कॉमन रूप से उभरा है, वह यह है कि इस ई-सिगरेट से बच्चे सर्वाधिक प्रभावित हो रहे हैं । इस पर सारी दुनिया चिन्तित है, डब्ल्यू.एच.ओ. चिन्तित है, सरकार चिन्तित है और मैं समझता हूँ कि कुछ लोगों को छोड़कर यह सारा सदन भी चिन्तित है । ऐसे विषय को लाकर हमारी सरकार के माननीय स्वास्थ्य मंत्री जी ने जो प्रयास किया है,उसके लिए वे सर्वाधिक प्रशंसा के पात्र हैं ।

20.30 hrs                        (Hon. Speaker in the Chair)        अध्यक्ष महोदय, एक कहावत है – ‘करेला और नीम चढ़ा’ । यह नशा तो ई-सिगरेट द्वारा है ही,इसका चीन भी व्यापार करने जा रहा है । चीन के माध्यम से हमें यह सिगरेट मिल रही है, ऐसी परिस्थति है । चीन ने जिस तरह अपने नकली सामानों को हमारे यहां भेज-भेजकर सारे मुल्क का बेड़ा गर्क किया है,इससे तो और बचने की जरूरत है । चीन के सामान – इस ई-सिगरेट को आपने प्रतिबंधित करने का काम किया है, इससे बड़ा प्रशंसनीय काम कोई नहीं हो सकता ।

       महोदय,मैं ई-सिगरेट के साथ ही साथ नशे के मामले में एक निवेदन और करूंगा । हमारे यहां एक साल के अंदर ‘कोरेक्स’ की बाढ़ आई हुई है । ‘कोरेक्स’खांसी की दवा है । इसने हमारे जिले के कम से कम पचासों लड़को को लील लिया । एक साल के अंदर पूरे जिले में ‘कोरेक्स’की शीशियां मिलती हैं । आप किसी भी झाड़ी के नीचे जाकर देखिए, वहां 50-100 ‘कोरेक्स’की शीशियां मिलती हैं । जब हम पुलिस वालों से बात करते हैं तो वे कहते हैं कि इसको नारकोटिक्स एक्ट के अंदर अगर लाया जाए, तब ही हम इस पर कोई कार्रवाई करेंगे । वे सिर्फ दो-चार शीशी पकड़कर काम खत्म कर देते हैं ।

इसलिए मैं इस बिल का समर्थन करते हुए फिर से माननीय स्वास्थ्य मंत्री जी को धन्यवाद देना चाहूंगा कि इस बिल का सर्वानुमति से समर्थन करने का कष्ट करें । धन्यवाद । जय हिंद ।

माननीयअध्यक्ष : मलूक नागर जी और प्रभुभाई वसावा जी के बोलने के बाद माननीय मंत्री जी कल जवाब दें तो ठीक रहेगा?

 …( व्यवधान)

माननीयअध्यक्ष : इस बात पर सदन की सहमति है?

…( व्यवधान)

माननीयअध्यक्ष : आपकी जो सहमति है, वहमंत्री जी का डेढ़ घंटे का जवाबहै ।

…( व्यवधान)

संसदीयकार्यमंत्रालयमें राज्य मंत्रीतथा भारी उद्योगऔर लोक उद्यम मंत्रालयमें राज्य मंत्री (श्री अर्जुनराम मेघवाल) : महोदय, जितना समय आप कहेंगे, उतना है, डेढ़ घंटा नहीं है । …(व्यवधान)

 

माननीयअध्यक्ष : मंत्री जी, आप पूरी बात तो बताइए ।

…( व्यवधान)

श्रीअर्जुनराम मेघवाल : महोदय, माननीय  सदस्य  एक घंटे के लिए कह रहे हैं । …(व्यवधान)

माननीय अध्यक्ष : इस पर सदन का क्या सेंस है?

…( व्यवधान)

मत्स्यपालन, पशुपालनऔर डेयरीमंत्री (श्री गिरिराजसिंह) : अध्यक्ष जी, हनुमान जी से पूछा  जाए । …(व्यवधान)

माननीयअध्यक्ष : मलूक नागर जी, आप दो मिनटमें अपनी बात खत्म कर दें ।

       प्रभुभाई वसावा जी, क्या आप बोलना चाहते हैं?

       …( व्यवधान)

श्रीप्रभुभाईनागरभाईवसावा (बारदौली) : हां, अध्यक्ष जी । …(व्यवधान)

माननीयअध्यक्ष : ठीक है, दो मिनट आप बोल लीजिए ।

       पांच मिनट में दोनों माननीय सदस्य बोल लें, कल माननीय मंत्री जी जवाबदे देंगे ।

 …( व्यवधान)

श्रीअधीर रंजन चौधरी: सर, हम बिलकुल राजी है ।

       … *…(व्यवधान)कल दो घंटे नहीं लगेंगे । …(व्यवधान)कल एक घंटे में आपको खत्म करना पड़ेगा । …(व्यवधान)आप डॉक्टर हैं,… * …(व्यवधान)

SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH (MAVELIKKARA): Sir, there are many amendments. …(Interruptions)

       सर, दादा के बहुत अमेंडमेंट्स हैं । …(व्यवधान)

 

श्रीमलूक नागर (बिजनौर) : सर, आपने बोलने का मौकादिया, इसके लिए बहुत-बहुत धन्यवाद ।

सर, मैं सदन में सुन रहा हूं कि ई-सिगरेट विषयपर बहुत लंबी-लंबी, 10-15 मिनट की स्पीच आ रही हैं और आपकेद्वारा घंटीबजाने के बाद भी हमारे साथीरुक नहीं रहे हैं ।

सर, मैं इस बिल का समर्थन करता हूं । यह बहुतअच्छी बात है, लेकिन जितना मुझे समझ में आ रहा है, ई-सिगरेट छ: - सात हजाररुपये की आती है, इसको रईस लोग पीते हैं । अगर वे बीमार भी हो जाएं तो उनकाइलाज हो सकता है । सिगरेट, बीड़ी, तम्बाकू, गुटखा, खैनी, सूखा तम्बाकू, कत्थे के साथ तम्बाकू जो आ रहे हैं, जिन्हें गरीब लोग ले रहे हैं, जिसके कारण कैंसर की बीमारी पूरीतरह फैल रही है । कैंसर के मरीजदबादब आ रहे हैं । वे हम सभी सांसदों के पास चिट्ठियां लिखवाने के लिए आ रहे हैं । हम प्रधान मंत्री कोष से उनके इलाज के लिए चिट्ठी लिखते हैं । वहां किसी सांसद द्वारा 35 सेज्यादा चिट्ठियां लिखा जाना बैन है ।

ऐसी स्थिति में हमें सोचना पड़ेगा कि सरकार गरीबलोगों को बचाना चाहती है या सरकार केवल जो अमीरलोग हैं, उन्हीं को बचाने के लिए इसे बैन करना चाहती है? मैं रिक्वेस्ट करूंगा कि इस विषय पर सरकार और माननीय मंत्री जी जरूरसोचें ।

सर, एक और बात कह कर मैं अपनी बात को खत्मकरूंगा । इस बात का, जो यह बैन लगाया जा रहा है । जैसे पंजाब में, हरियाणा में पराली बैन थी । हमारे पश्चिमी यूपी में कहीं पता चला तो पुलिस वालों ने जाकर डंडा बजा दिया, लोग अंदर कर दिए या उन्हें सांठ-गांठ कर के छोड़ रहे थे । हमारे लोग, जहां से पंचायतों की बैठकशुरू होती है, गांव में हुक्का पीते हैं, जो फिल्टर होकर आता है, कुछ लोग वह गुड़गुड़ भी पीते हैं । इसका मिसयूज़ न हो और पुलिस वाले उनको इस बैन की वजह से तंग न करें, मैं अपनी यह मांगकर के अपनी बात को पूराकरता हूं । पूरे देश में तम्बाकू से संबंधित जितने भी उत्पाद हैं, जिनसे गरीब लोग एफेक्टेड हैं, जो गरीब लोग कैंसर जैसी भयंकर बीमारियों से मर रहे हैं, उनके लिए भी सरकार सोचे । जैसेपहले जो बिल लोक सभा में पास हुए हैं, राज्य सभा ने वापसकिए हैं, अगर हो सके तो इसी बिल में तमाम नशों को बैन किया जाए । धन्यवाद ।

माननीय अध्यक्ष : श्री प्रभुभाई नागरभाई वसावा ।

 

श्रीप्रभुभाईनागरभाईवसावा (बारदौली) : अध्यक्ष महोदय,आपने मुझे बहुत ही महत्वपूर्ण विषय पर बोलने का अवसर दिया,इसके लिए मैं आपका आभारी हूं ।

       मैं आज सदन में इलेक्ट्रॉनिक सिगरेट (उत्पादन,विनिर्माण,आयात, निर्यात,परिवहन, विक्रय,वितरण, भंडारण और विज्ञापन)प्रतिषेध विधेयक, 2019 का समर्थन करता हूं ।

       माननीय प्रधान मंत्री नरेन्द्र भाई मोदी जी के आदेश से देश के युवाओं की सेहत का ध्यान रखते हुए यह विधेयक आज सदन में आया है, इसलिए मैं माननीय प्रधान मंत्री जी को बहुत-बहुत धन्यवाद देता हूं ।

       अध्यक्ष जी,भारत सरकार ने इलेक्ट्रॉनिक सिगरेट यानी ई-सिगरेट के उत्पादन की बिक्री, भंडारण और आयात-निर्यात पर रोक लगाने का जो फैसला किया है, इसका उल्लंघन करने पर जुर्माना और सजा दोनों का प्रावधान किया गया है । पहली बार गुनाह करने पर एक साल की सजा और एक लाख रुपये जुर्माना और बार-बार गुनाह करने पर तीन साल की सजा और पांच लाख रुपये का जुर्माना लगाने का प्रावधान है । लेकिन ई-सिगरेट का उपयोग करने वाले आदमी और बच्चों के लिए कोई प्रावधान नहीं है, इसलिए उनके लिए भी ऐसे प्रावधान होने चाहिए, ताकि इस पर बैन लग सके । ई-सिगरेट बैटरी से चलने वाला एक ऐसा डिवाइस है जिसमें लिक्विड भरा रहता है । यह निकोटिन और दूसरे हानिकारक केमिकल का घोल होता है और जब कश खींचते हैं तो हीटिंग डिवाइस इसे गर्म करके भाप में बदल देती है । यह बहुत नुकसानदायक है और यह कैंसर को न्यौता देता है । मैं समय को ध्यान में रखते हुए इतना ही कहना चाहूंगा कि ई-सिगरेट की इज़ाद वर्ष 2003 में चीनी फार्मासिस्ट होन लिक द्वारा किया गया था और उसके अगले ही साल में यह पूरे बाजार में फैल गया । अब यह इंडिया तक पहुंच गया है । इसके साथ ही मैं यह कहना चाहूंगा कि स्कूल या कॉलेज के नजदीक जो स्टॉल्स होते हैं, जहां चॉकलेट-बिस्किट इत्यादि के साथ गुटखा-सिगरेट की बिक्री की जाती है, उसके ऊपर भी रोक लगायी जानी चाहिए । आज इस बिल का समर्थन करते हुए युवाओं के बारे में प्रधान मंत्री जी ने तंदुरुस्त भारत का निर्माण करने का जो अहम कदम उठाया है,उसके लिए हम सब इस बिल का समर्थन करें और तंदुरुस्त भारत का निर्माण करने के लिए सब साथ में आएं । धन्यवाद ।

                                                                          

माननीय अध्यक्ष: सभा की कार्यवाही बुधवार, दिनांक 27 नवंबर, 2019 को सुबह 11 बजे तक के लिए स्थगित की जाती है ।

20.38 hrs The Lok Sabha then adjourned  till Eleven of  the  Clock  on  Wednesday, November 27, 2019/Agrahayana 6, 1941 (Saka).

 

* Not recorded.

* Introduced with the recommendation of the President.

** Introduced with the recommendation of the President.

* Not recorded.

* Not recorded.

* Voted through slip.

* Voted through slip.

* Voted through slip.

* Voted through slip.

* Voted through slip.

* Voted through slip.

* Voted through slip.

* The Following Members also recorded their votes through slips.

Ayes :23+S/Shri Jasbir Singh Gill, S.Ramalingam, H. Vasanthakumar and P.Velusamy =27 Noes : 93+Dr. Dhal Singh Bisen, S/Shri Pankaj Chaudhary, Sangam Lal Gupta, Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, Shri Parbatbhai Savabhai Patel, Dr. Subhash Sarkar and Shri Arjun Singh  =100 * Not recorded.

* Not recorded.

* Not recorded.

* English translation of the speech orginally delivered in Tamil.

* Not recorded.