Gutka, pan masala banned

SHILLONG: Though The Deputy Commissioner of Foods Safety, State Food Safety and Standards Authority, Shillong has prohibited the manufacture, storage, transport, sale or distribution of Guthka and Pan Masala containing tobacco and nicotine as ingredients in Meghalaya, but the biggest question remains whether the items will be banned in real terms.

Few years ago, the Supreme Court had imposed a ban on smoking in public places but till date the directive has not been implemented as smokers continue to smoke openly in each and every public place in Shillong and no one including the law enforcing agencies is bothered to stop someone who smokes in public places.

It may be mentioned that the storage and sale of Guthka and Pan Masala has been prohibited under sub section (2) of section 30 of the Food Safety And Standards Act, 2006 for a period of one year in the interest of the public health.

The imposition of a ban on the use of polythene was also never implemented in Meghalaya as people somehow continue to use polythene.

The only Supreme Court directive which was implemented in letter and spirit in Shillong was the removing of tinted glasses from vehicles as Shillong Traffic police went all out and implemented the directive in a large scale.

When contacted, police as well as district Administration said that they have not received any order from the Deputy Commissioner of Foods Safety, State Food Safety and Standards Authority so far to prohibit the sale of Guthka products.

In India, tobacco causes 45% of all cancer deaths and 20% of all deaths. People find it impossible to quit because of the addictive nature of the chemical nicotine – so addictive that WHO considers tobacco addiction a disease which sadly afflicts one out of every three Indian.

Along with tobacco, gutka and pan masala contains other harmful metal content like – lead, cadmium, chromium, arsenic, copper and nickel. Areca nut or betel nut – one of the main ingredients of all these products is a confirmed carcinogen according to WHO and a cause of severe illnesses.