Patna: Bihar’s economic and educational development community (seeds), which was actively involved in the anti-tobacco campaign for the past few years, on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to enforce a complete national ban on the production and consumption of PAN Masala, Gutka, chewing Tobacco taste and smokeless tobacco (SLT) in this country for the benefit of adolescent health.
In an email aimed at PM, the executive director of the seed Mishra showed that Bihar and Jharkhand had prohibited consumption of various PAN Masala brands and Gutka after magnesium carbonate and nicotine content found in it.
“When magnesium carbonate and nicotine are detrimental to health, both state governments have told the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Family, the Indian government, about the adverse effects of tobacco products on people’s health, especially adolescents, and demanding the cancellation of licenses from all these brands,” he said.
In his letter, Mishra further showed that as per report on the global adult tobacco survey (GATS-2) 2017, more than 27 crore people in this country consumed tobacco.
Among them, 20 crore consumed Tobacco Taste, Gutka, Pan Masala and chewed tobacco products.
At Bihar, 7.3% of children have been found in the habit of eating tobacco.
A survey conducted in 2019 revealed that the consumption of tobacco was prevalent at 6.6% of boys and 8% of girls among school students in all 38 countries.
“This percentage can be reduced further if the national prohibition is implemented in the production of cancer-causing products,” Mishra wrote.