Despite the devastating harm tobacco is on demand, around 60 to 70 people come to my shop for tobacco. I earn minimum of Rs 1000 per day said Pramod, a local Pan shopkeeper at Boring Road.

Health experts in Patna have called for stricter implementation of the tobacco ban across the state just one day before World No Tobacco Day celebrated on May 31^st.

Manufacturers continue to openly sell tobacco in one form or the other to customers in the city. A packet containing two pouches one of scented pan masala and the other of zarda  is sold for Rs 20. A separate container of pan masala costs Rs 350, said the owner of a pan shop at Maurya Lok Complex, who sells tobacco and its products to at least 50 customers every day.

According to, Association of Radiation Oncologists of India’s (AROI) state secretary Dr P N Pandit the tobacco ban declared by the then Chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi in 2014, was never implemented in Bihar.

Tobacco and its products are widely being sold and used wherever you go. Where is the ban? Pandit questioned.

Socio-Economic and Educational Development Society’s (SEEDS) executive director Deepak Mishra also urged the government to formulate rigid laws against people who use tobacco and its products as per local media reports.

However, Sanjay Kumar state health department principal secretary claimed the government is trying to find ways to curb the use of tobacco across the state.

This year the focus of World No Tobacco Day 2018 is focused on the impact tobacco has on the cardiovascular health of people worldwide.

  World No Tobacco Day