Ban on Gutkha, Pan Masala

The Government of Assam enacted the ‘Anti-Tobacco Act’ to combat the menace of tobacco chewing in any form. Gutkha is so popular among a good chunk of people including house wives/teenagers that these people are all set to dig their own graves. Keeping in view the evil effects caused by tobacco/tobacco products on the people, the State government enacted the anti-tobacco Act for the safety of the people. But in practice, it is observed that the Act is only in papers. No serious effort from the government appears to have been taken to materialize the Act with the result that the use of tobacco/Gutkha keeps on increasing. This results into concomitant increase in tobacco related oral cancer and death. This Act enacted by the State government proves to be quite a farcical one. In addition to the Act, on November 22, 2019 the Food and Drug Administration in Assam, the Commissionerate of Food Safety banned Gutkha, pan masala and any other chewing materials that contain tobacco or nicotine. But this ban too proves to be a farce as no one seems interested to implement it. Gutkha is sold like hot cakes all over the State. If the government of Assam is serious about implementation of the ban, the entire machinery should be pressed into service with all seriousness. Some vendors selling tobacco products concede that low-quality Zarda, Khoini should be totally banned as these are very harmful for human health. Some vendors confessed that in Assam the ban might be there, in the neighbouring States there is no such ban. These vendors take tobacco consignments from Meghalaya clandestinely and sell them in Assam. Our Chief Minister would do well to take steps to implement the ban in letter and spirit to save addicted people from the jaws of death.

Ashok Bordoloi,

Dibrugarh