One lakh fine, 1 year jail… How did the ‘smoke’ of e-cigarette, which is banned in India, reach Parliament?

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E-cigarettes cause great harm to health.

The atmosphere in the Lok Sabha changed suddenly when BJP MP Anurag Thakur made an allegation which shocked the entire country along with the MPs present there. Anurag Thakur said that a Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP was seen smoking e-cigarette during the House proceedings. This allegation was not just a political commentary, but raises a very serious question in the context of the e-cigarette ban implemented across the country. The BJP leader asked whether the use of such devices is allowed inside Parliament?

As soon as this allegation was made, there was an uproar in the House. Thakur directly asked Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla whether he had given permission for the use of e-cigarettes. The speaker clarified and said, no, no one is allowed to do this. After this statement the atmosphere became more serious. Thakur demanded that action should be taken against any MP who is using this banned device.

In such a situation the question arises that What is an e-cigarette?How dangerous is this compared to regular cigarettes, When was it banned in India and what kind of punishment is there for drinking and selling it,

E Cigarettes

What exactly is an e-cigarette?

E-cigarette is a small electronic gadget, which was launched in the market as an alternative to normal cigarettes. But the reality is much more dangerous than this. This battery-operated device heats a special liquid and turns it into steam. People inhale this steam like smoke, which gives the feeling of smoking. This e-liquid contains nicotine, propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG), flavoring agents and more than 70 chemicals. Many times, hidden nicotine content has been found in e-cigarettes sold in the name of ‘nicotine-free’, which is extremely harmful for the body and especially the brain of the youth.

How does this device work?

There is a heating coil inside the e-cigarette, which is operated by battery. After this, it heats the e-liquid so much that it turns into steam. The cigarette smoker takes this vapor into the lungs through breath. Some devices operate with buttons, while others operate only by dragging. These come in many designs like pens, pods and mods, most of which are shown as modern, cool and high-tech. This marketing gives the youth the misconception that it is safer than normal cigarettes, whereas scientific research shows the exact opposite picture.

The danger is not of smoke but of steam as well.

Many people start using e-cigarettes believing that it does not contain smoke, hence it is relatively safe for health. But this notion is completely an illusion. A study by North Carolina University of America found that propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin present in e-cigarettes harm the lungs. These increase inflammation in the lungs, cell attack and diseases like asthma.

Apart from this, it has been confirmed that very dangerous chemicals like acrolein are formed in the vapor of e-cigarette, which can directly burn the lungs and increase the risk of cancer manifold. The WHO report even claims that continuous use of e-cigarettes increases the risk of heart attack and stroke by almost 30%.

Strict law on e-cigarettes in India

In view of the increasing use of e-cigarettes among youth, their health effects and addiction patterns, the Government of India had imposed a complete ban on e-cigarettes across the country on 20 May 2019. Under this ban, the manufacturing, import, export, distribution and sale of e-cigarettes are all completely illegal. For breaking the law for the first time, there is a provision of a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh and a jail term of up to one year. At the same time, if caught again, there can be a fine of Rs 5 lakh and imprisonment up to three years.

Also read:- E-cigarette in Lok Sabha, BJP MP Anurag Thakur accused TMC MP of smoking; Speaker said- will take action

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