Cancer packets

This could well be the newly-appointed Union health minister8217;s first test. Is he just acting the role of health minister or will he tak...

This could well be the newly-appointed Union health minister8217;s first test. Is he just acting the role of health minister or will he take his commitments as chief guardian of the nation8217;s well-being seriously? The immediate answer to the question will hinge on how firmly he addresses the gutkha issue.

Right now, the gutkha industry is in a state of high anxiety, thanks to Maharashtra having joined three other states in banning the tobacco-laced pan masala product despite an estimated annual revenue loss of Rs 25 crore, and the Allahabad High Court shutting down the industry in Uttar Pradesh. Other states too are mulling over the issue and are, in fact, looking to New Delhi for direction.

Meanwhile, the powerful gutkha lobby 8212; that has thrived on a lax health regulatory system all these years 8212; is yelping for help.

It has been very creative in defending itself. It claims, for instance, to be a 100 per cent swadeshi product and is therefore worthy of support from a swadeshi-friendly government. It says that its product is harmless 8212; and that anyway even milk in large doses can be injurious to health. It points out that the government has done very little to address the menace of smoking even as it wants to crack down on gutkha.

It talks about the impact closing down the industry will have on the thousands employed in this sector.

All but the last two reasons may be dismissed out of hand. It is, of course, unfortunate that shutting down the industry will affect livelihoods, but this should have been anticipated and planned for. Indeed, some of the bigger players had already moved into other sectors, like tea and condiments. It is also true that India should do much more to fight smoking. But that does not mean that it must consequently leave the gutkha issue unaddressed.

It cannot afford to, seeing the havoc gutkha is wreaking on the health of the people, especially the young, attracted by its innovative packaging and affordable cost. The number of cases of oral cancer 8212; and the correlation between this form of cancer and tobacco chewing has been established 8212; is climbing. Today, oral cancer is the fourth most common form of the disease. Sinha, in his avatar as Bollywood star, has played villains and taken on villains. Today, he is required to use his fists, metaphorically speaking, against the gutkha villain. We are watching the action with rapt attention.