Taking cue from Assam, which has banned consumption of harmful tobacco-based pan masala and gutkha products by law, Kerala’s bureaucrats, health professionals, social advocates and tobacco use victims, have made a collective call for a similar legislation in the state. Reflecting popular sentiment, they point out that the desired impact of the ban – of reducing the public health burden – cannot be achieved unless consumption is also prohibited.
Shri K Anil Kumar, Commissioner (incharge), Food Safety, the regulating department for the effective implementation of the ban on pan masala and gutkha in Kerala said, “Ever since our state banned these products in 2012, we have been taking stringent action against violators. However, the illicit smuggling of these products into our state has been a major challenge in implementing the effective ban of pan masala and gutkha containing tobacco and nicotine. As such, any positive step in addition to this ban order or strengthening this ban order would be highly desirable. This would also help in curbing use among children in their vulnerable ages.”
Kerala was the second state in the country after Madhya Pradesh to ban the manufacture, storage, sale or distribution of gutkha and pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine as ingredients under the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulations 2011.
Dr. K. Ramadas, Medical Superintendent, Regional Cancer Centre said that while oncologists and medical fraternity at large can treat and provide care to the cancer afflicted, a legislative reform, as has been effected in Assam, would have far-reaching positive implications.
“Chewing tobacco, whether it is pan masala and gutkha, is a major cause of cancers affecting the head and neck in Kerala. I have seen several youngsters who have lost their taste buds, parts of their tongue and jawbones due to use of these smokeless tobacco products. This sorry state can be corrected to a great extent if Kerala can also legislatively ban the consumption of chewing tobacco products,” Dr Ramadas added.
Shri KS Varghese, Retd. Circle Inspector, Kerala Police and tobacco-induced cancer survivor said, “I took to the habit of using chewing tobacco to keep away sleep during night patrolling, and its use made me a cancer patient. I am now disease-free but the cancer that tobacco presented me with shattered my wife and two children. I would appeal to the Kerala Government to bring out a legislation as in Assam and totally ban consumption of these dangerous tobacco products.”
Assam has banned consumption of pan masala, gutkha, zarda etc containing tobacco and/or nicotine under the Assam Health (Prohibition of manufacturing, advertisement, trade, storage, distribution, sale and consumption of zarda, gutkha, pan masala, etc, containing tobacco and/or nicotine) Act, 2013.
Smt Vimala Menon, well-known social advocate and Secretary, Cheshire Home said, “It is heartening that Assam has given us a worthy example to emulate and follow. As someone who has seen the suffering of cancer victims in palliative care, I feel that everything possible should be done to bring down cancer incidence in our state. Banning consumption of all forms of chewing tobacco products by law and imposing strict penalty on violators would be an effective move.”
The Act prohibits “consumption including possession of zarda, gutkha, pan masala etc containing tobacco and/or nicotine and various types of smokeless and chewing tobacco or any of it derivatives in any form.”
Further, the Act also makes specific reference on prohibiting advertisements of these products. Violators of the law are liable to be punished with imprisonment up to seven years and a fine between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 5 lakh.
Consumption or possession of zarda, gutka and pan masala containing tobacco is punishable with a fine of Rs 1,000 for the first offence and Rs 2,000 for each subsequent offence.
Image courtesy: Midday
No comments:
Post a Comment