Here's how passengers are killing taxiwallas in Mumbai

Your relaxing cigarette drags in taxis are pushing the cabbies towards death. Seventy-nine per cent of 400 taxi drivers in Mumbai are forced into passive smoking every day

Some drivers complained that the RTO had not handed them no-smoking stickers. Representation Pic

Your relaxing cigarette drags in taxis are pushing the cabbies towards death. Seventy-nine per cent of 400 taxi drivers in Mumbai are forced into passive smoking every day. Non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke have an increased risk of developing lung cancer, and can suffer premature death.

Thirty-eight per cent of the drivers are, however, partially responsible for this situation. They have failed to put up a 'no smoking' sign inside their cabs to deter passengers from puffing away. The warning was made mandatory by the state transport department in 2011. Both the driver and the passenger can be fined R300 for smoking in a taxi.

Also Read: Mumbaikars, how much will you pay for a ride?

The findings are from an ongoing survey of city drivers that began in November last year by the preventive diagnosis department of Parel's Tata Memorial Hospital, the biggest cancer treatment facility in India. So far, 400 drivers have been surveyed.

The survey also found that passengers in 18 per cent taxis that sported a warning paid no heed to it. About 10 per cent even got offended at being told to stub out their cigarette. Some audacious passengers also offered drivers a drag when asked to stop smoking.

Smaller the space, higher the risk
Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, head and throat cancer surgeon at Tata Memorial, said drivers are at a higher risk of passive smoking than others in public spaces. Second-hand smoke can reach very high levels inside a car since it is a small, enclosed space. "Smoking inside taxis puts them in harm's way. Stringent rules need to be implemented to safeguard their health," recommended Dr Chaturvedi.

On Sunday, this mid-day reporter inspected 20 taxis, but none sported the warning sign.

Mohammad Rafi, 52, from Sion, who has been driving taxis for the past 30 years, blamed the regional transport office (RTO) for failing to provide him with an adhesive warning sign. "When I drove my old taxi four years ago, I displayed the warning. RTO officials didn't give me the label when I registered my new vehicle. All drivers get it only from the RTO."

He said several passengers also get offended when asked to stop smoking in a taxi. "The government needs to create more awareness of the hazards smoking poses to taxi drivers."

RTO to blame, too
Some drivers mid-day spoke to also complained that the label is of poor quality and gets washed way in rain. "I had a warning sign. But it came off during a bout of rainfall a day ago," said Vijay Singh, another driver from Sion. "The adhesive used is of poor quality. We have to go to the RTO to get the label, which is a time consuming process."

Driver Mohammad Rafi says passengers are offended when asked to stop smoking. Pic/ Sayyed Sameer Abedi

Signs of oral cancer
The survey also threw up another worrying trend: 35 per cent of the drivers showed early signs of oral cancer owing to tobacco consumption. Sixty-four per cent of the 400 surveyed drivers consume tobacco and its products like khaini and paan masala.
Dr Gaurvi Mishra, professor and head of Tata Memorial Hospital's preventive diagnosis department, dubbed these results "frightening". She said oral cancer is on the rise in India, primarily owing to the consumption of tobacco.

"Better awareness has to be created. Many taxi drivers claimed that they consume tobacco products as a fix to help them stay awake and focused while driving. But this is a myth and has no foundation in science," she said.

Remedial measures
India is the second largest consumer of tobacco after China. "As per the report on tobacco control in India, 2004, published by the health ministry, each year 8-9 lakh deaths in the country can be attributed to tobacco use," Minister of State for Health Shripad Naik had told the Rajya Sabha last year.

Raising taxes, using pictorial warnings on products, and banning advertising, smoking in public spaces and sale to minors helps lower tobacco use. India also launched a programme last year -- mCessation -- to help tobacco users quit the habit. So far, 20 lakh people have enrolled in the programme, and aides such as patches, gum and counseling are being used.

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