Nine Indian states ban gutkha!

Nine Indian states - Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Chattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Maharasthra and Rajasthan have banned gutkha containing tobacco or nicotine under the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on sales) Regulation, 2011 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.


The union territory of Chandigarh is also well on its way to ban this deadly product, notification to this effect is updated. 

Regulation 2.3.4 of the Food Safety and Standards Regulation 2011 states, "Product not to contain any substance which may be injurious to health: Tobacco and nicotine shall not be used as ingredients in any food products."


Going by the population figures of various states in Census 2011 and the findings of tobacco usage in Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2009-10, the ban has impacted a population of 48.2 crore and 3.1 crore gutkha users in India.

In Kerala alone, it has impacted 4.9 lakh users. 

The Hindu, Editorial - 26 July 2012

Image Courtesy: http://www.facenfacts.com/

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Pop diva Madonna strongly denounces smoking

Pop diva Madonna joins the list of growing celebrities who have publicly denounced cigarette smoking.


Reacting to her 15-year-old daughter's smoking, Madonna, in a recent interview said, "Cigarette smoking I'm not very fond of - for anyone."


When quizzed about her smoking in her new music video 'Girl Gone Wild,' Madonna, who is rated among 25 most powerful women and holds the record for being the world's top-selling female recording artist clarified, "I don't smoke. That's just an accessory."


Earlier, American supermodel Christy Turlington, who is known for modelling assignments for Calvin Klein, Maybelline Cosmetics and Versace, had also taken a strong anti-smoking stand.


In a video, Christy described quitting as "the biggest accomplishments" of her life.

Just a couple of months back, popular Bollywood actor Sonam Kapoor had tweeted, "Smoking is seriously not good."

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Shibu Baby John gives a noble gift to his mother

Kerala Labour Minister Shri. Shibu Baby John has given a very noble and touching gift to his mother Annamma John, who recently turned 80. 

A three-decade-long smoker, Shri.Shibu made the day special for his mother by giving up his smoking habit. 

"My mother would always admonish me for this habit; I thought there would be no better gift that I could give her. I am determined to give it up once and for all," the Minister has been quoted as saying.

With this special gesture, the Minister has shown the way for hundreds of smokers in Kerala. Love and well-being for near and dear ones can be a strong motivation to quit smoking.

Tobacco Free Kerala salutes Shri.Shibu for giving this special gift to his mother, and thus leading by example!

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