Delhi government will ban chewable tobacco products, sale of the same, manufacturing and storage of the products in any form from March 30. The ban which has been brought in for a year has been done with a view to check the growing menace of oral cancer. The ban is expected to stop the availability of unhealthy products including gutka and pan masala – a known cause of mouth cancer.
Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain noted that the move was aimed to ensure that Delhiites stay safe from tobacco abuse. “Chewable tobacco is a known cancer casing product which is easily available. The ban we hope will work towards ensuring that the younger population stays protected and healthy.”
The restrictions on sale of gutka products was imposed in 2012 under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act 2003. A violation invites penalty ranging from a fine of Rs 1,000 to three months imprisonment.
The law also prohibits vendors from selling tobacco products within 100 yards of schools, colleges and hospitals.
Meanwhile the ban, according to health experts, hasn’t proved to be any deterrent with the items being freely available across the city. Earlier a proposal for revised notification on sale of tobacco products was referred to Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung but not much action was taken on it.
