| 3 yrs on, Govt fails to implement ban on chewable tobacco products | | | GS Asgotra
Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 17: Even as Delhi Government has completely banned chewable tobacco products recently, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir that banned these products which are considered major cause for oral cancer over three years back, has not been able to implement its decision on ground.
Reliable source in health department said, "on March 6, 2013 the government had banned the sale, purchase, storage and even trading of these products.; But due to callous approach of the department concerned (Health Department), the execution on ban of chewable tobacco has not been implemented on ground, due to which the vendors, retailers, and even wholesalers are blatantly selling these chewable products outside the education institution and health institution s".
They further said that the order: HD/ Drug/58/2012 completely banned chewable tobacco products and directed departments concerned including Health department, Jammu Municipal Corporation, local administration and enforcement agency (police) to ensure that the ban is observed in letter and spirit. "The impact of the ban can be judged by the fact that earlier we got gutka at market prices but after imposition of ban on tobacco products, the same products are sold at inflated price", said a resident, Suresh Sharma.
The source disclosed that initially, the health department constituted a team with some official of revenue department, health department and Jammu Municipal Corporation, to visit public place and ensure imposition of ban on these products, but after few months, the team was dissolved by the then health minister and made the ban ineffective.
They alleged that all the enforcement agencies have miserably failed to implement the ban across the state. "Due to which, the smugglers, with the help of enforcement agencies are importing all chewable tobacco products in the state from neighboring states and not paying tax on these products and the successive governments rather than penalizing them, remained mute spectator on illegal sale of chewable tobacco", they alleged.
It is pertinent to mention that according to latest Global Adult Tobacco Survey, about (26.6%) population of Jammu & Kashmir is using tobacco product in one or the other of its form, the source added. |
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