Article posted on Vaping360 - Author: Jim McDonald - Translator: The Vape Club
The vaping ban in Karnataka was based on a bogus study, and one vaper has come forward to expose it.
No research has been done.
The sale of e-cigarettes is illegal in the Indian state of Karnataka, but vapers who can’t buy them are still gloating. The ban, which was imposed on June 15, was based on a joint study by the government and an NGO.
“We have issued a ban on e-cigarettes,” Health Minister UT Khader told the Times of India. “The decision was taken after considering the recommendations of the Cancer Control Committee.” And he explained to the newspaper that a study conducted had shown that a large number of young people were addicted to e-cigarettes.
A vaper has filed a Freedom of Information request (like the right to information in the US and UK) with the government, asking for the exact source of the study cited by Khader. As Rakesh Prakashi revealed in the Times this week, that’s a negative description. Because there was no study.
“A member of the city’s vaping community filed a Right to Information (RTI) request to debunk the government’s claim that the ban was based on a scientific study. The RTI response they received was that the Drug Control Wing of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare responded that “such an analytical study does not exist,” meaning that no government study has been done on the ill effects of e-cigarettes.
The RTI petition filed by IT expert Praveen Vijayan Pillai was based on the reasoning given by health minister UT Khader while issuing the ban. Khader had said the ban on e-cigarettes was based on a study conducted by an NGO and experts.
But the RTI response from the health ministry has contradicted the government’s claim, the vapers alleged. “Why is Karnataka targeting e-cigarettes when traditional cigarettes are still allowed to remain free? Why didn’t they conduct a comprehensive and objective scientific study on the effects of e-cigarettes before hastily imposing the ban? Was it to ensure the health of the people, or to protect the economic interests of a select group of people?” they asked.
“I was skeptical about using e-cigarettes to quit smoking , but now I am on the verge of quitting,” said Pillai, who smoked 40 cigarettes a day before switching to e-cigarettes three years ago. “What upsets me is that the government imposed a ban without looking into the science or available data. It’s unfair.”
- Quoted from Times of India -
#IndiaAlsoVape
In June, we wrote about a shop owner who was sentenced to three years in prison for selling an e-cigarette in Punjab. Parvesh Kumar is now out on bail and his story has gone viral. It has been shared by prominent figures in the industry, including Clive Bates and Sally Satel. Unfortunately, in Karnataka, there is no one with the authority to speak up for vapers.
The vaping community in India is growing. Vapers here share our joy at finding a fun and exciting way to quit smoking. But it will be a bumpy road ahead for them. It would be great if all the vapers in the world join in and support them through this difficult time on social media and social media if possible. Trend the hashtag #IndianAlsoVapes on Twitter to wish them luck.
