Don8217;t Play Nanny

But it is wrong to think the solution is a ban. Firstly, it is wrong in principle. Smoking and drinking in public places ought to be strictly regulated because of the likely social consequences polluted air, rowdiness. Eating gutkha has no similar social consequences. It harms the individual and indirectly his/her family and no one else. If gutkha eaters want to poison themselves slowly it is no one8217;s business but their own. Spitting in public should be severely punished. People need to be educated about the hazards of eating gutka. But the government should not go beyond that. Second, a ban will not work. All that will happen is gutkha-tobacco will go underground, producers8217; profits will rise and the state will lose revenue. People will go on consuming as much as they did before. Three, there are lots of other things which are bad for people8217;s health such as contaminated drinking water, such as polluted air. These are areas where effective government action is desperately needed to save innumerablelives.

A formidable list of tasks awaits the new government of Maharashtra. It should act where it can be effective to improve people8217;s lives. There is plenty to do without trying to play nanny and cure people of their private vices. Public education programmes on the health risks from consuming gutkha-tobacco, especially in schools and colleges, make a lot of sense. Banning the product does not.

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