Gutkha
banned in Goa
Sandesh Prabhudesai
27 January 2003
The
Goa Gutkha may be available in the rest of India, but
no gutkha or pan masala is now allowed in Goa.
Following footsteps of Maharashtra, the state government
here has totally banned manufacture, distribution and sale
of gutkha pan masala, from 26 January.
Goa already has a legislation, though not enforced with a
firm hand, banning chewing or smoking of any kind of tobacco
in public places, besides advertising its products or selling
it near educational institutions.
The present ban on gutkha however is a circular, issued by
the Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration, stating
that no person/ food establishment is permitted manufacture
and sale of gutkha pan masala, with or without tobacco, and
in whatever name called.
A forceful demand in this regard has come in view of increasing
trend of chewing gutkha among the youth and even teenagers,
no matter whether they are educated or not. A survey has indicated
that 30 per cent tobacco-related deaths are among the younger
generation.
"It is a biggest achievement as Goa becomes the first
state in the world to ban both smoking and chewing of tobacco
while the USA has banned it just last month, but partially",
states Dr Shekhar Salkar, general secretary of the National
Organisation for Tobacco Eradication.
After similar kind of circular issued by the Maharashtra
government, traders had started distributing gutkha free of
cost with other related products. The Goa circular thus also
bans even distribution of gutkha pan masala, even if it is
called in other name.
However, when one government in 1998 had imposed cent per
cent sales tax on gutkha to control its consumption, the gutkha
sachets had disappeared from public display and were easily
available in black, at a much cheaper rate.
"I do not deny that sale in black will continue, but
overall sale will reduce to mere 25 per cent", claims
Dr Salkar, stating that it a big achievement. "India
can save five lakh lives annually if such kind of ban is imposed
countrywide", he adds.
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