A new study published in BMJ Global Health indicates that over 20.49 million households in India, representing 10.6% of all households, could elevate their economic status by ceasing tobacco use. Conducted by researchers from the ICMR National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (ICMR-NICPR) in Noida and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) in Mumbai, this study is the first of its kind to quantify tobacco use across the nation. It reveals that the poorest households spend 6.4% of their monthly income on tobacco, significantly hindering their economic mobility. Notably, 5.62 million families in the lowest income bracket could completely escape their economic class through cessation. The study emphasizes that tobacco cessation is not merely a health issue but a critical poverty alleviation strategy. Dr. Prashant Kumar Singh, a senior scientist at ICMR-NICPR, highlighted the urgent need to treat tobacco cessation as a means to reclaim dignity and improve livelihoods. The findings suggest that 17 million rural households could potentially advance economically through quitting tobacco, compared to 3.5 million urban households. The authors advocate for integrating tobacco control into existing poverty programs, asserting that resources are already available without the need for new government schemes.