Cancer patient stresses on blanket ban

Naimuddin Shaikh, a 37-year-old oral cancer patient, has written a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, asking him to emulate the blanket ban on tobacco products followed in states like Kerala and Madhya Pradesh.

Shaikh, who is presently being treated in Tata Hospital, is in the advanced stage of oral cancer. In his letter, Shaikh emphasized that banning tobacco products in the state is essential to ensure that our children do not fall prey to these products.

“I started using gutka and other tobacco products at a very early age as no one told me the harmful effects of it. Today, I see many children of 10-15 years committing the same mistake,” said Shaikh. 

Shaikh thought of writing a letter to the state government after reading about Kerala’s ban on tobacco products in newspapers. 

Shaikh, in the letter said, “I cannot bear the sight of this killer product being sold every 10 meters, especially near schools. I get very disturbed, when I see others, especially teens chewing it. We all know tobacco kills half of its consumers prematurely. Why do we still continue to allow this industry a legal status? Is it justified to allow the killing of 1 million Indians (mainly young) every year for earning a few thousand crore?” 

Last week, the Kerala government had banned the sale and manufacture of tobacco products based on the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regulation number 2.3.4.

However, in Maharashtra, the onus of implementing the ban lies with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which has not imposed any ban as yet.

Satej Patil, minister of food and drug administration, said, “I am all for a total ban on pan masala, gutka and other chewing tobacco products. I have put forth the case to the law and judiciary for final approval. Kerala and Madhya Pradesh managed to get the final approval from the law and judiciary. Their stamp is imperative, because tomorrow I do not want any case in the court challenging the ban.”