TheWest Bengal government has put a total ban on the manufacture, storage,distribution and sale of gutka and pan masala in the state for a year witheffect from November 7. The decision was taken keeping in mind the harmfuleffects of tobacco and nicotine-based chewing products on human health.

TheUttarakhand government had also put a ban on the manufacture, storage,distribution and sale of tobacco a few days ago.

TheRajasthan government, last month had also banned certain products of pan masalaand flavoured tobacco products made of magnesium, carbonate, nicotine andmineral oil. The other states that have imposed the ban are Maharashtra andBihar.

Thegovernment in these states imposed the ban under the Food Security Act. Every year,several people lose their lives due to cancer which caused due to consumptionof tobacco.

All these stated have put a ban on these tobacco products but the question arises as to when the state of Assam will follow the rule. Many times the government has made rules like not to sell tobacco within a 100-meter radius of educational institutions and to stop selling gutka and pan masala in the shops. But the sale of tobacco products is increasing and the government is silent on the issue.

Itmay also be mentioned that North East especially the state of Assam has the highestnumber of cancer patients and the reason behind this is the consumption oftobacco for which the throat cancer is on the rise.