The success of VHAI’s approaches can be attributed to Research based Technical expertise, its outreach at the community level, building effective partnerships, sensitization of policymakers, capacity building of state partners, and coordinated efforts with other civil society organisations at national and state levels.

Since 2010, India’s political leaders have taken a series of strong actions at both the national and state level to curb the country’s enormous tobacco epidemic, which claims one million lives each year. These actions include large, graphic warning labels that cover 85 percent of tobacco products. India’s warnings are among the largest in the world, showing that graphic warnings depicting the deadly consequences of tobacco use work to help current users quit and prevent people from starting to use tobacco.

India has also increased tobacco taxes at the state level and many states have banned gutka, a popular, but deadly form of smokeless tobacco. India’s newest data show that smokeless tobacco use has declined by 24 percent – a historic decrease that will save many lives in a country known as the oral cancer capital of the world. The Indian government also took an important step and announced that it will tax cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and bidis at the highest rate of 28 percent under a new Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime.

Government of India should be lauded for its significant progress of the work done against terrible epidemic. These progressive policies should be taken forward by the State Governments by bringing out appropriate orders, notifications and legislations that are designed to protect public health and defend existing policies and laws across the country. India’s progress also shows the world that even countries with soaring numbers of tobacco users can drastically reduce the burden of tobacco use and improve public health for all.