Gutka Ban Comes into Effect in Gujarat

Gujarat and Delhi governments have slapped a comprehensive ban on the sale of gutka to contain the risk of youngsters falling prey to cancer.

Gujarat's ban on the gutka sale came into effect on Tuesday while Delhi has issued the notification regarding the comprehensive banning on gutka products, which is likely to come into effect soon.

"I have to save the youths of Gujarat, from the dreaded evil of cancer and that's why a decision to impose a complete ban on gutka has been taken," said Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in a statement while commenting on the decision to ban gutka.

The alarming number of young cancer patients in the state is believed to have prompted Modi to impose the ban on gutka.

The Chief Minister said, "Consuming gutka is more expensive than consuming almonds and this monetary loss must stop."

The ban has been regulated under the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) act 2006. According to reports, the Gujarat government notification suggests that offenders of gutka ban can face at least six months imprisonment or fine up to Rs 5 lakh.

Meanwhile, Delhi Health Minister AK Walia, announcing the decision to slap the ban on gutka, said Monday that it had always been a priority for the government.

"Our government was always in favour of putting a ban on gutka and has finally achieved it. The ban will come into effect as soon as a notification to this effect is issued," the Times of India quoted Walia as saying.

Delhi and Gujarat join the bandwagon of states which have already imposed a ban on gutka, including Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana, Jharkhand and Punjab.