Tobacco Eats Into Koraput Tribals’ Health, Hard-Earned Money

 Purusottam Singh Thakur, Media fellow,  2009-10

While smoking kills over nine lakh people every year in India, bidi-smoking women shorten their lives by about eight years on an average and smoking 1-7 bidis a day raises mortality risks by 25 per cent. Buduni Bhumia in remote Ramgiri village of Koraput district has never heard of these shocking details on tobacco consumptions.

In fact, the Budunis are hardly ever told in simple language that, what they chew or smoke in a carefree manner in the pristine village forests is all set to snatch them away from their near and dear ones much earlier than they imagine.

Rural Odisha, especially, the tribal-dominated regions have never been in the grip of tobacco as it has been today.

A weekly marketplace in Koraput depicts how the local-made tobaccos are sold like hotcakes and men and women queue up for stacking tobacco materials for their weekly consumptions.

Forty-year-old Bhagban Sagar of Ramgiri village has been a small trader of dhungia (colloquially bidi) over a decade.

Bhagban’s income has shot up in recent years as consumption of tobacco among the villagers has increased substantially.

He now hops from one market to another and enjoys his booming business.

He is now contented with his journey from mere daily labourer in the brick-kilns to becoming a trader.

However, he is not aware of the fact that he is dishing out slow deaths to his fellow tribes.

A small interaction with Bhagban makes it clear how tobacco consumption is higher among the least educated, poorest, and the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.

“A big chunk of the buyers belong to the Kondh community and frequent the weekly market only for dhungia,” he said.

Bhagban himself pleads ignorance about the bad effects of tobacco.

At Dhandabadi weekly market, more than five traders of dhungia were seen raking mullahs over the locals’ lack of knowledge about the ill-impact of tobacco.

At Dhandabadi, people from Bhumia tribes are the main buyers.

Tobacco consumption is not all about health only, but it also eats into the hard-earned money of the tribals.

Two tribal women, who came to purchase dhungia leaves, said that they spent Rs 2 on tobacco daily.

This is a not a small amount considering the acute chronic hunger and poverty prevailing in the region.

Smoking bidi, suta and chewing dhungia has not been a habit developed in the adults. They catch it from young tribals.

Holding dry dhungia leaves, Sada Saunta said that he was into smoking since his childhood.

They give interesting reasons for developing tobacco consumption in Koraput.

Ram Saunta of Gadaguda village said that he has been using tobacco to get rid of dental problem.

“I am sure, it is not good for health, but I get relief from dental germs as tobacco kills them,” Ram said.

Besides, the tribal population faces bombardment of small tobacco packets which have been attracting the youngsters.

In Putiaguda village, most of the people have shifted to readymade tobacco from traditional dhungia.

“Since it is easily available in the local market, I am using gutkha (packed tobacco),” said Saba Saunta.

The prevalence of tobacco consumption in tribal region seems to be grossly underreported.

Tobacco is making further inroads into tribal regions in different shapes and cultures. Surprisingly, neither the Government nor any non-Government organisation has thought of creating awareness to persuade the tribals to give up the killer habit.

Caption: Tobacco Eats Into Koraput Tribals’ Health, Hard-Earned Money

Language: English

Media Released: The Pioneer

Release Date: 2010

Fellowship Year: 2009-10