The noose is finally tightening around the manufacturers of one of the most potent killer products in the world — chewable tobacco such as gutka and tobacco containing paan masala. A few States — Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Bihar, Maharashtra and Rajasthan — have by the stroke of a pen banned the manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of such products. These substances may soon face the same fate in more States where the process of proscribing them has been initiated. Maharashtra has banned all paan masala brands (immaterial of the presence of tobacco) that contain magnesium carbonate above permissible levels. It is highly commendable that State governments have begun to crack down on this dangerous produce just months after the notification of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulation, 2011. The FSS Act prohibits the presence of tobacco in food products. The industry, which successfully scuttled a ban by many States in 2004, is now in the dock. There is inviolable evidence of harm caused by chewing tobacco. A Lancet study published this year highlighted the scale of the problem in India and made a strong case for reducing the consumption of these substances. In 2010, chewing tobacco was responsible for about 20 per cent of the 120,000 tobacco-related cancer deaths. It killed twice the number of people as lung cancer, and was the leading cause of death in men in both urban and rural areas.
The FSS Act provides the much needed teeth for States to act against food items containing tobacco. Unfortunately, the Act has ignored betel nut (areca nut) — a well known carcinogen found in both gutka and paan masala. That the Union government failed to include it despite a voluminous and indisputable body of evidence clearly pointing out its carcinogenic effect is indeed shocking. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organisation had in a 2008 monograph stated that “areca nut is carcinogenic to humans (Group I).” There is “sufficient evidence” of the carcinogenicity of betel quid [paan] with and without added tobacco, it noted. Even if eaten without added tobacco, paan causes cancers of the oral cavity and oesophagus; a “positive association” has also been found between exposure to betel quid and liver cancer. Hence banning these products based on the presence of betel nut will result in a sharp fall in oral cancer mortality. So what is preventing the Union government from acting? Betel nut is the “second most consumed” carcinogen after tobacco. But unlike tobacco, there is gross and widespread ignorance of its harmful effects. Hence, increasing awareness levels should be given equal priority.
Keywords: chewable tobacco, paan masala ban, harmful effects, health issue, awareness levels, Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulation, 2011, FSS Act
I would like to appreciate the efforts taken by state government just on a short notification from Food Safety and Standards(FSS) to ban the production and consumption of Ghutka.Almost 90 percent of the rural population and 60 percent of urban population consume such carcinogenic material.People are unaware of the insidious effects of consuming such materials.Although it was known that the tobacco is a carcinogenic material but unveiling the fact that betel nut(areca nut)is also a carcinogenic material would create much awarenes among the common mass.This proscription for sure would be a nasty blow for the manufacturing companies and the even the government too but when it comes to the health and lives of the common people, this horrible act of manufacturing carcinogenic material can never be condoned.
by banning this products ,peoples medical bill will be sharply decrease;
at the same time we have to think of the people who are employed related
to this industry.
I do not consume any kind of tobacco yet i want to make a point here.Why is govt going after gutkas and pan masalas only?ciggarets are equally carcinogenic and even polluting?alcohlism is also a issue which is being highlighted?so why not ban it too?the point here is that govt should not decide whats right for a person.we live in a democracy and every person has a right to live his/her life according to his/her own wishes provided he does not harm society in anyway.In case of pan masalas and gutkas there are SOCIAL implication.Firstly,tobacco consumers not only chew tobacco but they spit in public places.Such behavior is disgusting and often seen in small towns and villages.secondly,pan masala shops(in small towns generally) become hubs of anti social activities.So govt should try to work its effort in controlling social effects of such products rather than banning them altogether.It would be much more practical and sustainable.
It is a well known fact that Praful Patel, Union Minister is a bidi-
paan-gutka king. In all probability this law has been passed as a
pressure tactic on the NCP, and will be taken back after public
protests. W
For the people who think that it is an individual's right to eat/drink whatever he/she wants and state should not impose any blanket ban.... here's my viewpoint.
When someone chews tobacco, develops cancer, and goes to a government hospital for an expensive treatment; he/she is using my (taxpayer's) money to cure something caused by his/her bad habit. I strongly oppose and denounce this.
I don't understand the bit about Maharashtra banning all products that contain Magnesium carbonate "above permissible limits". What harm can Magnesium carbonate do other than give loose motions if one ingests too much of it? Actually, it would be a fairly safe remedy for constipation, much safer than many other laxatives.
@Srinivasan TN
You have asked an excellent question, and you have given the answer also.
I have read a long time ago that even Life Insurance Corporation of India hold stock in ITC, India's major tobacco company.
It is overwhelming that a few states have banned the tobacco gutka. And the state like Bihar, where people live their day with tobacco has baaned it,this is an inspiration for the other states.
Smoking is banned in public places.But Smokers don't bother to smoke at public places.If we want complain to the police even they are somking at public places."Banning doen't help".Government should implement in strict manner.if you people want spoil your health spoil it. who has given right to spoil other lifes.Don't spit(pans) on the roads(it may cause infections) and don't smoke at the public places.
it's a good initiative and should be followed by other state governments
too.however the title of the article is weird..The Hindu should restrain
from using such titles..
It is a great news that paan masala, gutka and tobacco are getting banned in several states. Better late than never! Now that gutka and tobacco have started their walk back, it is high time that alcohol is also given the same treatment - a kick on its back. Alcohol is an even more worse killer than tobacco because alcohol is a 'family killer'. It is better if good sense prevails and the union government bans alcohol just like how the tobacco products are being banned! Alcohol and drunkards are a worst menace to society. The drunkards should never be pitied and the harsh treatment should be meted out to them, like heavier fines and jail terms. Next in line should be the road traffic offenders. We can only hope and pray and be optimistic because if tobacco is banned now, we will not be far away from the day when alcohol is banned (Prohibition). Some states have already banned it and get revenue from so many other sources.
The addicts to gutka and tobacco containing paan masala are small men in the lower rungs of society.Gutka industry is not that powerful as to resist the government ban and survive.The governments are,therefore, able to ban it for good.Cigarette industry is not like that. Its godfathers are more powerful multinational money bags and the government dare not touch them beyond getting the statutory warning printed on the cigarette packets in as inconspicuous characters as possible. Smoking besides the smoker makes people in the vicinity also passive smokers exposing them to the same degree of hazards in the long run.So smoking also needs to be discouraged.It cannot be banned overnight for obvious reasons. Its price may be heavily hiked so that it may deter smokers to opt for less and less number of pieces for ultimately giving them up.
Under an amusing title,you have dealt with a deathly issue that bedevils the society.I am a resident of Guntakal,a railtown in Andhra Pradesh.I come across the unseemly sight of gutka users despoiling the roads and premises here.It is common spectcle here the gutaka addicts shove in the banned substance under their tounge.There is corrollary menace of the use of the substance to others .We countenance them spitting lavishly on the road while riding fast ahead us.They feel no cumpuction in sullying public office precincts, school campus and for that matter any open space.They give scant respect to any one who raises an objection.This is the abominable level our cultural and behavioural standards have plummeted.The areca nut usage has an added dimension to public health.It is used in the preparation of rice in certain hotels who serve full meals. Such misdeeds are reported in some feasts and festivities too. Awareness alone cannot ward off such evils. Man and his mindset should change.
First motive should be fixed , rather than banning it directly. As per
human rights and respecting Rights of an individual, substances cannot
be banned simply on sufficient evidences. Even today , most of road
accidents happen because of high speed driving and negligence.You
cannot ban driving vehicles for such evidence ! The root cause for the
problem should be solved at not the other way around.Banning tobacco
will just causes states to loose its income and parallel system will
still be providing tobacco to its desperate users. In today's era of
globalization , if government bans production in India , may b other
country will allow its production and it will be smuggled. There are
pitfalls and loopholes in every system. So government should focus on
educating people starting from schools. Once the adverse effects of
tobacco are understood by juveniles , they will tend less towards the
flashy and catchy tobacco products.
This step will also ensure that the coming rural elite to urban society
remains fairly not-addicted, as we still have not lost faith in the
policy making bodies.
Well said by Satyendra, A brilliant eyeopening article having such title is in bad taste. Story of Paan Singh was of struggle and resilience. Please do not use it unnecessarily.
Very inappropriate title. Something i would expect from TOI but never in
Hindu.
Apprehensive step by Govt of Rajasthan. I think it should be banned, all the products having 'Tobacco' also. Other states which have not taken such steps yet, need to apply this immediately.
It is really a commendable job being done by state governments. I hope government will help gutka addicts to cope with their urge to consume these products in case of non availability in market.
Banning the paan etc. is not the appropriate step. This will only fetch our country more corruption and black money because the business is not going to fall. Making people aware is the key.
wow' what an article hope all tobacco consumers gain a lesson from this
,so beautifuly explained
For me its a daily affair ,seeing people chew Paan Masala and Tobacco
sitting in the well maintained air conditioned office. Being in bengal
Its even more common to see people smoking irrespective of the Gender,
Class,and Region. They don't really understand that, they are polluting
the Surroundings even if they are fine with their own Health.
Thank you for this editorial. It is a very serious problem which needed
to be highlighted in media. I have seen people are aware of the harmful
effects of gutka and tobacco but still they take it. In such a pathetic
condition, only law can intervene and take necessary steps. Thousands
of people die of oral and throat cancer but chewable tobacco
manufacturers least concern for this. The measure taken by some of the
state governments to ban tobacco containing paan masala and gutka is
really appreciable. But hopefully it will not lead to black marketing.
The steps taken by the state governments can be considered as a ray of
hope for people who are concerned and a beginning for a tobacco free
society.
title is inspired by TOI it seems :)
How dep this 'gutka' habit had spread could be illustrated by a corporate habit that I have witnessed. In an organisation which holds periodically conferences, just like mineral water, gutka dabbas were on the table just because a few top men and officers were addicted to this. What about corporate social responsibility.
Tobacco in form of cigarettes is an established cause of cancer. Why is it not banned like paan? Is it because it brings in lot of revenue to the govt and the tobacco industry has enough money power to buy out policy makers?
It is good that the States have begun to ban gutka and tobacco containing paan masala.For now areca nut has escaped ban possibly in the light of its religious significance (taamboolam) in our Indian tradition.However,it has also to be shown the door in view of scientific evidence against it.What is obtaining is even when betel leaves/areca nut are employed in religious rites,when given to participating people,they simply cast it away after receiving since betel chewing has ceased in towns and cities barring of course people in lower rungs of rural society.Even as paan masala with tobacco is sought to be banished its cousins cigarette and beedis which are much more dangerous even to non-smokers are having a field day. Why not ban cultivation of tobacco as a crop even if it means loss of excise revenue to government and dislocation of tobacco farmers. I think tobacco has a strong lobby to take care of the evil.
Why make fun of the poor guy's name? It's not even a good joke.
Rightly said. When there is a ban on products containing tobacco on the ground that the consumer is prone to fall a victim to the killer disease of Cancer, there should be an immediate ban on products having betel-nut as an ingredient , because betel-nut is also almost equally carcinogenic. The editorial should create proper awakening among the public, besides prompting the government to impose a ban on them too.
A nice editorial -- can you please clarify what (and why) the "Singh" in
the title stand for?
Thanks for banning these products in India. What just rural areas.. The other day just walking past one wall in the drivers license office in chennai I was about to throw up.. because of all the pan stains.. and cigarette smell..it was pathetic. Andhra and rajasthan, UP anywhere you go even in temple cities people will spit. If it is carcinogenic let the people die of cancer but if it pollutes our country we need to BAN IT. FINE the people like singapore. Tobacco is bad...The betel leaves and paakku tradition like olden days is NOT totally bad..betel leaves have calcium and the paaku and betel leaves help you in digestion - the spitting on common areas is however is BAD and probably too much of it is bad for the teeth and gums.
I never knew betel nut is that harmful. Thx for the info
From a Non-Paan User: This article signifies what is wrong with our country. We should respect right of the other person to make a decision on how lives his life, as long as it does not have an direct impact on others. Even indirect violation of rights (because of using somebody else's tax money) like Govt sponsored campaigns to increase awareness should be debated and, as far as Im concerned, can be allowed if we table the potential gross violation of personal rights. This is from the ethical perspective.
From an economic perspective, artificial reduction of demand is not sustainable and will only lead to criminal elements taking over the trade. Of course, Govts will be happy to enforce a ban, because it enables corrupt politicians to start another business.
Gutka is harmful(probly) (tho I find it funny that the author asks for a blanket ban based on "sufficient evidence" and "positive association") but that doesnt give us the right to stop everyone from using it.
The Hindu let down its readers - especially those who value its
professionalism - by uncharitably distorting a last name for the sake of
making a catchy headline.
Please Email the Editor