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Jaipur - If you want a government job in Rajasthan, quit smoking and chewing gutka first. For, the department of personnel has issued a circular to all other departments and district collectors to extract an undertaking from candidates to the effect that they do not smoke or consume gutka while in government service.

In November 2012, state-level coordination committee (SLCC) for tobacco control had recommended that an undertaking should be taken from candidates before giving them government jobs. Such an undertaking would help young smokers to quit the habit in the initial stages itself, which otherwise would result in cancer, the committee felt.

Principal secretary, department of personnel, Sudarshan Sethi said, "Gutka and smoking are very harmful and their consumption is not at all a fashion statement. People should stay away from it."

A copy of the circular, issued on October 4, has been sent to the governor, Rajasthan Public Service Commission, secretary, Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha and registrar, Rajasthan High Court Jaipur/Jodhpur.

The circular was issued on the same day when the model code of conduct for assembly elections came into effect in the state.

State nodal officer, tobacco control, Dr Sunil Singh said, "It is not only in India but probably first in the world that such a decision has been taken to discourage tobacco consumption."

He said that SLCC's first meeting was held in November and the next meeting will discuss what penalty should be imposed if a person violates the undertaking.

Those who are working for tobacco control welcomed the decision though they say that a lot more has to be done for tobacco control.

A city-based oncologist Dr Rakesh Gupta, who was one among the five recipients for WHO's award (in May 2013) for their efforts in tobacco control, including promotion and implementation of anti-tobacco policy and capacity building to control tobacco consumption in state, said: "It is a good decision but a lot more brainstorming has to be done. There is hardly any facility to help tobacco users to quit the habit also there is a shortage of experts who help the tobacco users in quitting it. A proper policy is needed for it."

He added that as per the national cancer registry, the cause for cancer among 50% male and 20% female is tobacco.