Shalini Yadav calls for urgent action against the rising danger of vaping and e-cigarettes causing harm to children

-Applauds Mothers Against Vaping for their efforts-

New Delhi (December 04, 2024): Shalini Yadav, social worker and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader from Uttar Pradesh, has raised the concern of the increasing prevalence of e-cigarettes and heat-not-burn (HNB) products among children and youth in India. Yadav

also highlighted and applauded the initiatives of Mothers Against Vaping, a group of concerned mothers dedicated to combating the growing crisis of novel nicotine delivery products such as vapes, e-cigarettes, heat-not-burn devices, and nicotine pouches among Indian children and youth.

Shalini Yadav is a former Samajwadi Party leader and had contested the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat in 2019 against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She, however, joined the BJP in 2023.

Speaking about the deceptive and dangerous nature of these new-age gateway devices, Shalini Yadav said, “New-age addiction devices like electronic cigarettes and heat-not-burn products look cool and attractive but they are luring our children and causing a faster and more dangerous addiction to nicotine. Although these products are banned in India, foreign companies continue to push them into the country to create a new generation of nicotine users who also become vulnerable to even more dangerous usage of drugs.”

“This is a conspiracy that we cannot ignore and has to be stopped. Immediate and decisive action has to be taken, or else this danger will not only destroy the future of our children but also of the country. In this context, I would like to congratulate Mothers Against Vaping group, who are trying to protect and make our children safe from these electronic devices. We all should help them in this good fight”, Yadav added.

Other personalities from political parties, like Shehzad Poonawala, National Spokesperson, BJP have talked about the need to strictly enforce the ban on these fancy devices, including vapes and e-cigarettes.

Many concerned and respected achievers from different walks of life have not only highlighted the issue of vaping among children and the youth but have also joined Mothers Against Vaping in their endeavour. Among them are notable personalities such as Dr. Deepa Malik, Padma Shri Khel Ratna and Arjuna Awardee; Nandita Das, Actor-Filmmaker and National Film Award winner; Baichung Bhutia, Football Legend; Dutee Chand, Athlete and Olympian; Neha Dhupia, Actress and Kushboo Sundar, Politician and Actor.

The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Act came into force in 2019 in India.

In May 2023, the union government had issued public notices for stricter implementation of the act.

Indicating the presence of a black market for vapes, the Union Health and Family Ministry has reported 350 vape-related violations since 2022.