G S Asgotra
Early Times Report
Jammu, May 8: Its now more than two years since government had imposed a ban on consumption of tobacco products but after lapse of more than two years, the concerned department has failed to enforce the ban.
Before imposition of the ban, tobacco products would enter Jammu and Kashmir after payment of taxes and duties, but now the products have been entering without any tax, punching holes in the state exchequer.
Moreover, due to inaction of the state government, all the manufacturers, distributors, shopkeepers and vendors have been blatantly importing the tobacco products and selling the same.
The State government, on March 6, 2013 had issued an order, according to HD/Drug/58/2012 vide SRO 68, prohibiting the manufacture, storage, advertisement trade and sale of chewing tobacco products.
The government had also directed all the enforcement agencies including Health department, Jammu Municipal Corporation, Local administration, Pollution Control department and Police to ensure that the ban would be observed in letter and spirit, but there seems no change in the ground realities and with the ongoing sale of tobacco products, across state, the ban is merely an eyewash.
An employee in Health department, wishing anonymity said that before ban, the manufactures, shopkeepers and distributers had been paying huge taxes on the smokeless substances including tobacco and pan masala but after the ban, all the chewing tobacco products have been imported without taxes, duties and illegally across the state, causing huge loss to state exchequer.
According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey India 2009 - 10 released by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, it was revealed that more than 25 percent population of Jammu & Kashmir, had been using tobacco product in one or the other of its form, and after persistent deliberations, ban was imposed which become futile.
When this correspondent contacted to the Health Officer of JMC, Dr. Mohammed Saleem Kham said that last year, they had sized 271 packets of gutka and 230 packets of cigarette with the cost of Rs. 4, 60000 and 26,150 respectively.
He further said, "Presently, due to lack of manpower we are incapable to conduct any campaigns. The officers of the team, constituted for imposing ban, were shifted by the then Health Minister Taj-Mohi-uddin and now we have acute shortage of manpower due to which it is not possible to enforce ban". |
