(a) present status of the tobacco industry in India;
(b) whether the Indian tobacco industry is having any significant role in the global tobacco industry;
(c) if so, in what manner;
(d) the present tobacco consumption of the country;
(e) the total workers employed in this sector; and
(f) the foreign exchange earnings of the tobacco industry annually?
MINISTER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI MURASOLI MARAN)
a) Indian tobacco industry is in the private sector.
b) & c) Yes sir. India at present is among the World`s three largest producers of tobacco, 6th largest exporter of unmanufactured tobacco (all types), and ranks 4th among exporters of Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco.
d) The present tobacco consumption in India is about 480 million kgs. In dry weight.
e) Indian tobacco sector provides employment to about 7.5 million families.
f) The total value of export of FCV tobacco in the form of foreign exchange earnings for the last three years are as follows:-
Year Value (Rs. Crores) 1997-98 1070.24 1998-99 779.11 1999-2000(April-Dec) 781.49
(Source : DGCI&S)