Background:
Chewing of tobacco related stuff has gained the social acceptance due to which there is dramatic increase in the incidence of oral cancer and oral precancer. As we proceed more towards the rural areas incidence is increases. It is almost skyrocketing in the tribal area as the tobacco consumption is their social custom. Tobacco is used as pacifier in the tribal population. So keeping in mind this increase prevalence of the oral cancer and oral precancer SOCH ( Society for Oral Cancer and Health ) has conducted a population based survey in the Chandrapur and Gadchiroli districts showing increasing incidence from the urban - rural - tribal area.

Methods:
A cross sectional study was done in 4 villages and one tahsil place comprising of rural and tribal population.
Target groups were school going children, population of productive age group and population habituated to tobacco.
Door to door survey including intra oral examination was done to detect the disease at early stage.

Results:
Total 1027 individuals were screened for tobacco related oral precancer and cancer. 447 peoples were found addicted to ´Kharra´ a form of smokeless tobacco. 331 patients were suffering from oral precancer like oral sub-mucous fibrosis, leukoplakia and erythroplakia. 1 patient of oral malignancy was detected in one of the rural village in the sample.

Conclusions:
The prevalence of tobacco habits increases from urban to rural and tribal area which warrants strong tobacco control measures with population based screening for oral cancer and precancers.