Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sep 23: The Jammu and Kashmir Voluntary Health Association (JKVHA) has impressed upon Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to pass a legislation in the forthcoming assembly session for a blanket ban on the usage of Guthka and other chewable products that contain tobacco and nicotine.
In an appeal, A M Mir, Executive Director JKVHA said that the step would prove that the state government is committed towards the health of the people. He also appealed ministers for health and medical education to do their bit in this regard so that the state is made tobacco free.
“The increasing consumption of Guthka, Pan Masala and such other chewing tobacco products in the State is a matter of deep concern. Unfortunately, even the children and young adolescents have access to these products as they are freely available and at affordable costs at every nook and corner of the State. These products act as a gateway to drug addiction for this vulnerable population. Besides, poor section of the society consumes it as a leisure product. The impact can be seen in the form of rising number of cancer cases, especially oral cancer in the State,” said Mir.
He said that Jammu and Kashmir should follow Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Bihar, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, Mizoram, Sikkim and Uttarakhand and issue orders to prevent sales, manufacture and use of the tobacco products.
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