SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Feb 5: Anti- Tobacco crusader ‘Socio-Economic and Educational Development Society’ (SEEDS) has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi for nationwide ban on Pan Masala at par with Jharkhand, Bihar in the interest of youths and adolescent health.
SEEDS Executive Director Dipak Mishra in his letter to the PM has demanded a complete ban on Pan Masala, Gutkha and chewing flavoured tobacco manufacturing industry in the country.
Mishra has said that Jharkhand and Bihar have banned different brands of Pan Masala after magnesium carbonate and nicotine contents were found in several brands in the test conducted by the state governments.
“Since magnesium carbonate and nicotine are injurious for health, both the state governments had also informed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India about the reports and demanded cancellation of license defaulted brands,” said Mishra.
SEEDS is also the technical support partner of the Jharkhand government in the implementation of the tobacco control programme and has ushered in making seven districts- Ranchi, Bokaro, Dhanbad, Saraikela, Khunti and city area of Jamshedpur and Hazaribagh smoke-free.
Mishra has pointed out that as per WHO’s report, 90% of the causes of mouth cancer in the country are Pan Masala brands, Gutkha and chewing tobacco.
“If defaulted brands are banned in the country, it would help to a great extent to check mouth cancer,” he said.
He has also pointed out in his letter that every year, more than 13.5 lakh people die in India. As per reports of Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS-2) 2017, 27 crore people in the country use tobacco in which 20 crores of them consume flavour tobacco, Gutkha, Pan Masala and chewing tobacco products.
The SEEDS executive director has also urged that if a nationwide ban is imposed on defaulted brands of Pan Masala, Gutkha, and flavoured tobacco products, the health of youths can be saved.
