India: Pan Shop Owners Oppose Ban on Smokeless Tobacco Products

Source from:  The Times of India  03/07/2013

The state government's move to ban smokeless tobacco products has been opposed by hundreds of pan shop owners in Guwahati.

The Greater Guwahati Pan Shop Business Association and All Guwahati Traders' Association (AGTA) have vehemently objected the state government's decision to ban smokeless tobacco in the state. The two leading traders' associations of the city alleged that the state government's decision to ban smokeless tobacco products is biased as the state government is silent on putting a ban on liquor and cigarettes, which are equally harmful.
 
"If tobacco products are harming society, we have no objection in supporting the government's decision to ban gutkha, pan masala, chewing tobacco and zarda. But there should be scientific approach while taking a decision of banning such products. The state government is silent on banning cigarette, which is also a tobacco product," said Balo Ram Sarkar, the general secretary of Pan Shop Business Association.
 
In a bid to bring down the number of oral cancer patients in the state, the state government in February decided to ban sale of smokeless tobacco products, including mixed products like gutkha and pure tobacco items like zarda in the state. The decision is yet to be implemented.
 
Both the associations slammed the state government for taking a decision to ban smokeless tobacco products without making any alternative arrangements for the businessmen, who will most likely be rendered jobless after ban on smokeless tobacco products is implemented.
 
Extending support to pan shop owners, the general secretary of AGTA, Prantosh Roy, said, "The traders of Guwahati will protest against the state government's decision to ban only smokeless tobacco products which threaten the livelihood of hundreds of pan shop owners in the city. Banning only smokeless tobacco is not acceptable." Enditem