OPSC Mains & Prelims
Odisha Specific
Public Health & Governance
Tobacco and Alcohol Consumption in Odisha
Tobacco and alcohol consumption are higher in the southern and tribal districts of Odisha, per NFHS-6 — with Malkangiri emerging as a hotspot across nearly every indicator.
MALE TOBACCO USE
48.3% (NFHS-6)
FEMALE TOBACCO USE
22.8% (NFHS-6)
STATE-WIDE HOTSPOT
Malkangiri — highest across nearly every indicator
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About the News
- Tobacco and alcohol consumption are higher in the southern and tribal districts of Odisha, per NFHS-6.
Key Data (NFHS-6, 2023–24)
| Indicator | NFHS-6 (2023–24) | Direction / Spatial Hotspots |
|---|---|---|
| Female Tobacco Use | 22.8% | State-wide decline; highest in Malkangiri (37.5%), Koraput (31.5%), Nabarangpur (30.8%) |
| Male Tobacco Use | 48.3% | State-wide decline; highest in Keonjhar (61.1%), Malkangiri (60.3%), Bhadrak (59.1%) |
| Female Alcohol Use | 3.1% | State-wide decline; highest in Malkangiri (13%), Mayurbhanj (10.9%), Keonjhar (9.4%) |
| Male Alcohol Use | 26.8% | State-wide decline |
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Analysis: Socio-Cultural Context vs. Modern Addictions
Traditional vs. Commercialized Use
- In tribal belts (Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Mayurbhanj), indigenous fermented beverages (Handia, Salap, Mahua) carry cultural, dietary and ritual significance — but commercial illicit liquor and cheap smokeless tobacco (gutkha, khaini, bidi) have infiltrated these areas, creating chronic addiction distinct from ritual use.
Gender Disparity Patterns
- Unlike urban areas where female consumption is minimal, southern/northern tribal districts show substantial female substance use (e.g., Malkangiri female tobacco use 37.5%, alcohol 13%), driven by occupational manual labour, cultural acceptance and low NCD-risk awareness.
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Public Health & Governance Bottlenecks
- Enforcement gaps persist in implementing the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, particularly for point-of-sale vendors and smokeless tobacco in remote tribal weekly markets (haats).
The “Twin Burden” in vulnerable districts: Malkangiri, Rayagada and Kandhamal buck the state’s declining trend with rising substance use — districts that already register high undernutrition, maternal anaemia and infant mortality, so substance abuse compounds existing health vulnerabilities.
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Constitutional Dimensions
- Article 47 (DPSP): directs the State to endeavour to bring about prohibition of intoxicating drinks and drugs injurious to health.
- PESA, 1996: empowers Gram Sabhas in Fifth Schedule areas to enforce prohibition or regulate the sale/consumption of intoxicants — a provision that remains largely underutilised in district-level enforcement.
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Way Forward
Culturally Sensitive De-addiction Services
Decentralise the NTCP down to Health & Wellness Centres (Ayushman Arogya Mandirs) using ASHAs/AWWs fluent in local dialects (Koya, Kui, Santhali).
Mobilise Community Institutions
Leverage Self-Help Groups (Mission Shakti) and Gram Sabhas under PESA for grassroots de-addiction drives against commercial liquor in Fifth Schedule regions.
Target Smokeless Tobacco
Focus behavioural change communication (BCC) on smokeless tobacco, the primary driver of oral cavity cancer in coastal and southern Odisha.
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Source: NFHS-6 (2023–24)
