Gutka sale continues across Tamil Nadu as ban yet to take effect

CHENNAI: Tobacco products such as gutka and pan masala continue to be sold across the state nearly a week after chief minister J Jayalalithaa on May 8 announced the decision to ban the manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of such products.
Food safety department officials said they were clueless about the day on which ban would come into effect. "We have not action against those selling tobacco products as the government order in this regard has not been issued," said one. The ban on tobacco products was announced in 2001 but couldn't be enforced due to a staff shortage. A staff continues to plague the food safety department.
On Tuesday, this correspondent found such products being sold in shops in several areas, particularly Broadway, Sowcarpet, Alandur, Perambur, Velachery, Tondiarpet and Manali. While many traders and consumers claimed they were unaware of the decision to ban the products, some traders were selling 'tobacco products' in black.
Ashok Modi, a resident of Sowcarpet, said there was no decrease in the sale of tobacco products. "Unfortunately, most consumers are children and mainly from poor backgrounds. This 'ban' may encourage black marketing," he said.
Health experts say migrant labourers constitute the major chunk of pan masala users in Chennai and that such products were among the major causes behind the increasing incidence of mouth cancer.
Others said it would be difficult for the food safety department alone to take action against the sale of tobacco products. "The government should involve youth organizations, NGOs to create awareness. Stern action should be taken against manufacturing units and steps initated to prvent the products from being smuggled in from neighbouring states," said Dr S Elango, former director of Public health.
Many traders urged the government to fix a date on which the ban would come into effect. "We can be prepared and clear our stocks to avoid financial loss," said Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangangalin Peravai president T Vellaiyan.
Customers said some retailers were charging more than the MRP for gutka and pan masala. "When questioned, they say it is banned. If it is banned, then how they can sell it here," said a customer in Broadway.
Sources said tobacco products continued to be sold in the black market in many states that had banned them.