Taking cognisance of complaints received by teachers for naming a gutkha as 'My Teacher',the Maharashtra government is contemplating a ban on its sale. An NGO,Salaam Bombay foundation working against tobacco products,met Minister of State for Home,Satej Patil recently objecting to the use of the word 'teacher' for the gutkha product,produced in Gujarat. "I have received over 3,000 signatures from teachers asking to ban the product and take action against the concerned company for using the word. The department has written a letter to the Gujarat government on the issue and expect reply from them soon," Patil said. The gutkha is produced at Silvasa and Gandhinagar areas in neighbouring Gujarat. Maharashtra only has distributors of the product. In the letter,Patil said,"Of teacher's is a profession who makes responsible citizens of India. The gutkha name sends wrong message to the society and it also violates the rule 62 of the Prevention of Food and Adulteration Rules 1955,as it contains prohibited anti-caking agent." Objecting to the name of the gutkha,Principal of Marwadi Commercial High School and Junior College in South Mumbai,Shridhar Gharat said it absolutely sends a wrong message. "The name would create wrong impression among students and the words 'My Teacher' may attract them to buy it. The Government should take strict action and ban the product," Gharat said.
