The gutkha nation and the welfare state
Published on: Jan. 21, 2026, 7:38 a.m. | Source: The Indian Express
The Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2023-24 delivers an uncomfortable truth India cannot ignore: Tobacco consumption is rising fast, spreading wider, and embedding itself deeper into the lives of people in poorer households — just as the state expands publicly funded healthcare. This has serious implications for health outcomes, fiscal sustainability, and social policy. Adjusted […]
