While the government has announced to sell the goods at their usual prices, highly taxed commodities such as alcohol and cigarettes narrate different stories. On the other hand, amidst the coronavirus lockdown, a small scale market of tobacco and matchsticks are booming up.
These industries function from the backyard of those locals who are usually farmers — some of them who hold stock of raw tobacco produce, duplicate cigarettes like Dunhill and Marlboro. However, others try to repackage the matchsticks and beedis.
The Centre has announced an extension of nationwide lockdown by two weeks but has also allowed a few economic activities to reopen. The government has divided the country into Green, Orange, and Red Zones depending upon the number of active COVID-19 cases in that region. Most importantly, the government has now allowed the sale of liquor in all Green Zones. Paan shops will also be allowed in these areas.
The Home Ministry has added that the sale of liquor, paan, tobacco will be allowed after ensuring minimum six-feet social distancing. No more than five persons will be allowed at one time at shops.
ITC, which is the biggest manufacturer of tobacco products in India, has stopped producing non-essential goods. Due to inadequacy in the stock of cigarettes, smokers, especially in metro cities, are not hesitating in purchasing a pack of cigarettes at double price. A pack of cigarettes that use to cost around Rs 300 is now worth Rs 700 in black due to lockdown.
"Is Samay sarkar ko paise ka jarurat hai, cigarettes aur sharab se jo tax aata ha use sarkar ke khajane me jana chaheye taki logo ki madat ki ja sake (At this moment the government is in huge need of revenue, the tax which use to come from tobacco and alcohol must go to government so they can help the needy)," said a cigarette shop owner who is homebound at this moment in Baner, Pune.
He later added that he is left with no other option but to operate from his home and sell cigarettes at a higher price in black.
For those who can't afford to pay Rs 700 for their addiction are moving towards cheap substitutes like beedi and khaini ( chewable tobacco ). However, there are also a few who are managing their dependence by making use of alternatives like nicotine patches and chewing gums that are readily available in medical shops.
Majority of the population is taking the lockdown seriously. An individual's weekly expense on fuel has dropped near to zero, which was earlier one of the reasons people would hesitate in spending money on cigarettes and alcohol. Those who opt for cheap substitutes are also at risk of severe health conditions, as most of these products violate the guidelines set by the government for the manufacturing and packaging of tobacco products.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), smokers are more vulnerable to COVID-19 as the act of smoking involves fingers (and possibly contaminated cigarettes) that are in contact with the lips -- increasing the possibility of transmission of the virus from hand to mouth. Smokers may also already have underlying lung conditions or a reduced lung capacity which would significantly increase the risk of serious illness.
In the current scenario of our country where the lawmakers and doctors are putting remarkable efforts to curb this pandemic and with the nation at the crossroads of economic crises and COVID-19, it is up to the citizens of India to look at this situation more responsibly and sensibly.
