Regarding need to undertake comprehensive regulatory and preventive measures to address the situation arising out of increasing incidence of vaping among youth of the country-laid

Regarding need to undertake comprehensive regulatory and preventive measures to address the situation arising out of increasing incidence of vaping among youth of the country-laid SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY (SARAN): I draw the urgent attention of the Government to the growing crisis of vaping in India, particularly among school- and college-going youth. Despite the enactment of the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA), 2019, which bans e-cigarettes and similar devices, vaping has emerged as a serious and rapidly growing public health concern. Recent reports reveal that 96% of Indian school students aged 14?17 years are unaware that vaping devices are banned, and nearly 89% of individuals are unaware of its harmful health effects. Alarmingly, a national survey found that 8.6% of schoolchildren aged 13?15 years have experimented with e-cigarettes, with higher prevalence in urban centres. Medical professionals are increasingly reporting vaping-related health issues among young users, including chronic dry cough, wheezing, breathlessness, early hypertension, anxiety, and reduced academic performance. Parliamentary data reveals glaring enforcement gaps, with Punjab reporting zero violations and zero recoveries of e-cigarettes in 2023?24, despite being one of the earliest states to ban them. These facts highlight a disconnect between legislation and enforcement. I urge the Government to treat vaping as a youth-centric public health challenge, requiring coordinated inter-ministerial action, awareness campaigns, and stronger enforcement mechanisms.