Ban on tobacco products, an utter failure in state capital

• GHMC officials inspecting gutka packets during a raid on a general store in Hyderabad. | Express Photo

Though the state government has banned the sale of gutka, pan masala and other chewing tobacco products which are hazardous to health, the sale of these products is still rampant in most parts of Greater Hyderabad.
With authorities failing to strictly enforce the new rule, customers are getting their daily fix and are able to consume it in public places without any trouble.
The ban of gutka seems to be meeting the same fate as the prohibition on smoking cigarettes in public places. Though law forbids smokers to take a puff in public, it is a common sight to find many smokers violating the rule.
One can easily purchase these banned products in any paan shops and small vendors as shopowners are least bothered about the impending raids by officials.
They believe the authorities cannot take any stringent action them except to impose a fine of `50.
Unfortunately, tobacco control cell functioning under the directorate of public health and family welfare located in Koti, supposed to be enforcing the ban, lacks supporting staff.
State nodal officer T Geetha Prasadini, technical officer S Nagaraju, state consultant Heena, heading the TCC does not support staff and are the mercy of GHMC and police for enforcing the ban.
On few occasions, TCC staff had to face the wrath of vendors and make a hasty retreat in some areas while enforcing the ban. Vendors in huge numbers reportedly opposed the raids.
The state government on Jan 9 this year banned gutka and paan masala products and instructed authorities to strictly implement the prohibition and enforce a blanket ban on manufacture, stock, sale and use of all tobacco products in the state.
An investigation by Express revealed that it was very easy to get gutka sachets anywhere in the city just by shelling out additional bucks. The cost of each pouch has almost doubled but this is no deterrent to paan masala lovers.
In Ameerpet, a paan shop owner said a sachet of ‘Goa 1000’ brand with a printed price of `3 would cost `6 but he is willing to sell at the rate of `4 to `5 in case of bulk purchase.
The ‘Vimal’ brand, with an MRP of `5, are available at `8 in Sanjeeva Reddy Nagar while another vendor in Punjagutta said that he could arrange for a larger quantity of packets and promised regular supply in future as well.
Shop owners say they were able to sell the banned items as there is no strict enforcement of the rule.
Speaking to Express the TCC state nodal officer, T.Geetha Prasadini admitted to lack of enforcement in implementing the gutka ban.
“We would like to first create awareness about the ban before we start imposing it in full force. We will initially penalise violators and if they still continue to sell them, GHMC will be asked to cancel trade licenses of the shops and cases will be booked under COTP Act 2003. We have so far seized 5 lakh sachets from various shops in the city,” she said.
She further explained that the tobacco business in the state is to the tune of `10,000 crore per annum, while people consuming these products spend around `40,000 towards medical treatment for various ailments per year.
Though enforcement of the rule is currently slow in Hyderabad, it is expected to pick up pace soon after chief secretary Minnie Mathew holds a meeting with Health, Medical and Family Welfare (HM&FW), Vigilance and Enforcement, Commercial Taxes, Police, Transport, Labour, Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) and Panchayat Raj Departments.
As per notification, the above eight departments should work in coordination and enforce the rule prescribed by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Section 2,3,4 that any food product which contains tobacco or nicotine is banned.
She said the TCC is implementing COTP Act 2003 in all districts with the coordination of various departments and is preparing an action plan.
“A monitoring system will be designed with the support of IPM the nodal agency for the ban on smokeless tobaccos products,” said the officer.
The officials also request the paan vendors to understand the health risks involved in consuming tobacco products. The advertisements displaying the tobacco products on the boards at pan shops are also banned under section 5 of COTP act 2003.
The TCC has reportedly listed out over a dozen firms involved in manufacture and supply of chewing tobacco, flavoured tobacco, royal, synthetic, aromatic spiced flavoured tobacco products etc.
“We will soon take action against them. The officials are also in the process of identifying those firms dealing with the sale of banned products,” said T Geetha Prasadini.