Hazare hails govt move to ban gutkha

July 8: Crusader against corruption and Magsaysay award winner Anna Hazare has hailed the state government move to enact a legislation bann...

July 8: Crusader against corruption and Magsaysay award winner Anna Hazare has hailed the state government move to enact a legislation banning sale of gutkha to curb the growing addiction to this tobacco product which has been reported hazardous to health.

In a statement faxed from his village Ralegan Siddhi in Ahmednagar district, Hazare has expressed concern over increasing number of people including school-going children falling prey to the deadly addiction of gutkha and emphasised the need for a strong people’s movement to dissuade people from the gutkha eating habit.

According to the reformist the powerful lobby of gutkha producers was making all-out attempts in Delhi and Mumbai on the strength of their money to stall the proposed anti-gutkha legislation. He called upon people’s representatives and political leaders not to succumb to pressures from the gutkha producers and enforce the ban soon.

He also called upto the social organisations not to accept advertisments of gutkha,tobacco and cigarette companies during the organisation of public celebrations of festivals, like Ganeshotsavs, cultural functions and other events. In exhortation for a strong movement for anti-gutkha awareness, he pointed out that the addiction was reportedly forcing school children to steal money. This, he felt, illustrated the dangers of the addiction to society.