New Delhi, India
The policy will be aimed at checking widespread consumption of chewing tobacco products
The government will come down heavily on chewing tobacco manufacturers and frame a policy against its widespread consumption in India, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said.
“Chewing tobacco is most dangerous. All of us should have a policy for them,” the Minister said during a function at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here, reports IANS.
“They are going scot free. What about the ‘gutka’ (chewing tobacco) sellers who are spoiling the people’s health? These gutka manufacturers are rich people. We should come down heavily on them,” the Minister added.
He said tobacco is one of the main reasons of cancer which kills tens of thousands of people. Every year, India reports around 900,000 cancer cases. The casualty figure in India due to cancer is above 400,000 per year.
The Minister said the law is tougher against cigarette manufacturers though 'bidi' (rolled cigarettes) and chewing tobacco consumers are higher in number.
According to official data, over 80 per cent of tobacco users in India use bidi and chewing tobacco.
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