![\"Tobacco](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-47529300,imgsize-110164,width-400,height-225,resizemode-72\/47529300.jpg\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\nNew Delhi:<\/span> A tobacco cessation helpline run from Delhi has helped more than 2.3 lakh Indians quit tobacco and handled nearly one crore calls over the past decade, emerging as one of the country\u2019s largest counselling-based public health interventions against nicotine addiction.Operated by Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute (VPCI), University of Delhi<\/a>, the National Tobacco Quitline Services (NTQLS) enrolled more than 6.8 lakh tobacco users for counselling and follow-up support since its launch by Union health ministry on May 30, 2016.The service has also seen substantial participation from the national capital. More than 25,000 Delhi residents registered with the Quitline between 2016 and 2026, while 8,047 tobacco users successfully quit with its support.The milestone comes as India prepares to observe \u2018World No Tobacco Day\u2019 on May 31. According to programme data, the Quitline received nearly 99.3 lakh calls between May 2016 and April 2026. Of these, over 6.8 lakh tobacco users formally enrolled in the programme, sharing their details and agreeing to receive structured counselling and follow-up support to quit tobacco. The service handled almost 20 lakh inbound calls, made over 46 lakh outbound follow-up calls and recorded 2,32,870 successful quitters, translating into a quit rate of 34.5%.Officials said registration reflects a higher level of commitment than a routine inquiry, as users voluntarily enrol in the programme to receive repeated counselling sessions and follow-up guidance.Uttar Pradesh<\/a> recorded the highest number of registrations, with 2,09,964 tobacco users enrolling for counselling and support, followed by Rajasthan (1,49,633) and Madhya Pradesh (60,829). Uttar Pradesh also recorded the highest number of successful quitters at 69,683, followed by Rajasthan (56,873) and Madhya Pradesh (21,527).Young adults emerged as the largest group seeking help to quit tobacco. More than 3.1 lakh users aged 18-24 years registered for counselling and cessation support, followed by 2.2 lakh users in the 25-34 age group. Registrations declined steadily with age, suggesting that younger tobacco users are more likely to seek professional help. The service was created to provide structured cessation support to millions of tobacco users who may never visit a specialised tobacco cessation clinic because of distance, cost or lack of awareness.\u201cIndia has 267 million tobacco users and for years there was not a single free, structured support system to help them quit,\u201d said Dr Raj Kumar, Director of VPCI and coordinator of NTQLS. \u201cThe Quitline gave every Indian who wanted to quit the dignity of a free call that would be answered by a trained professional, regardless of where they were, what language they spoke, or how much money they had,\u201d he added.Public health experts said the figures demonstrate the potential of low-cost, technology-based interventions in tackling tobacco addiction at scale.Dr Digambar Behera, Padma Shri awardee and former head of pulmonary medicine at PGIMER Chandigarh, said the Quitline created the country\u2019s only nationally accessible, professionally staffed cessation support infrastructure. He noted that a quit rate of over 34% compared favourably with outcomes reported by several international Quitline programmes.India records more than 1.4 million tobacco-related deaths annually, yet cessation services remain limited. Ahead of World No Tobacco Day, Dr Raj Kumar called for state-level Quitlines, wider integration with public health programmes and greater awareness about quitting support. \u201cToday we have proof that a national Quitline works. The question now is how quickly we can give it the scale it deserves,\u201d he said.<\/div>\n