The increasing consumption of smokeless tobacco has emerged as a serious public health crisis in Odisha. According to official data, more than 42 percent of the state’s adult population consumes some form of chewing tobacco—nearly double the national average. As a result, cases of oral, throat, and facial cancers are rising rapidly across the state.
Considering the gravity of the situation, the state government has decided to impose a complete ban on the production, processing, packaging, storage, and sale of all tobacco and nicotine products. The Health Department has issued a formal notification in this regard.
Health officials said this is the strictest action taken since the gutkha ban imposed in 2013. Earlier, companies were evading the ban by selling tobacco and pan masala in separate sachets, which consumers mixed before use. All such products and their sale have now been completely prohibited.
State Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling said the ban would be enforced strictly. The Drug Control Department, police, and district administrations will jointly monitor its implementation. Sale of tobacco products within a 100-yard radius of educational institutions will remain strictly prohibited, and legal action will be taken against violators.
According to the Health Department, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classify chewing tobacco and nicotine products as major causes of cancer. Despite this, their use had been steadily increasing in Odisha.
As per the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), while tobacco consumption among men has shown a marginal decline, usage among women has risen to 26 percent. Experts warn that this trend is directly affecting maternal health and newborns.
Meanwhile, the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (2019) indicates that 6.2 percent of students in the state use tobacco in some form.
The use of tobacco and nicotine products is particularly high in 19 tribal-dominated districts of the state. Data shows that nearly 45 percent of total users are from rural areas.
The ban has been enforced under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003, the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, and the Juvenile Justice Act 2015. Selling tobacco products to minors can attract punishment of up to seven years in prison and a fine of up to ₹1 lakh.
Official figures reveal that during 2024–25, fines exceeding ₹11 lakh were imposed in 6,952 cases of COTPA violations.
According to the Health Department, tobacco control awareness programmes have so far been conducted in over 11,500 schools and hundreds of colleges. The state government has said that along with the ban, awareness and counselling programmes will be further intensified.
