Impact of 'Gutkha and Pan Masala Ban' in the State of Maharashtra on Users and Vendors

Background: Based on the various reports indicating health hazards of gutka and pan masala there are various efforts to ban the production, consumption, sale, storage and transportation of these products by various states in India. The situation had gone to such an extent that government had no other option than to ban these products. In India gutka is classed as a food item and falls within the purview of Prevention of Food Adulteration act. The Central Committee on Food Standards (CCFS) had already reported a complete ban to the Central Government a decade ago itself. The reasons unanimously given by CCFS for a complete ban on Gutka were 1) Children are getting addicted to these products in large numbers; 2) Users develop Oral Submucous Fibrosis and cancer over a relatively shorter duration and die earlier compared to smokers; 3) Women prefer smokeless tobacco due to social disapproval of their smoking and therefore may be particularly vulnerable to gutka addiction. Tamil Nadu had banned Gutka in 2001 itself. Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra & Rajasthan had also followed the same in August 2002.4 Subsequently following some legal battles ban on Gutka in Maharashtra was lifted. But now following the example of eight other states in India, Government of Maharashtra has finally banned the manufacture, storage, distribution or sale of Gutka and Pan masala, containing either tobacco and/or nicotine or Magnesium Carbonate as ingredients by whatsoever name these are available in the market and any other products marketed separately to constitute as Gutka and Pan Masala, etc. as final products from July 19, 2012.8 The appeal filed by some manufacturers in Bombay High Court has been quashed and the ban is to continue now unless it is reversed by the Supreme Court of India. Sensing the possibility of Supreme Court (SC) appeal by gutka and pan masala manufacturers the Government of Maharashtra has already filed an caveat there so that there plea will be heard first by SC before passing any order in this matter.

There is a large population addicted to Gutkha and pan-masala all over India. We would like to study the impact of this ban on the users of this product and on the tobacco vendors. Even if the ban is reversed by the Supreme Court, we would still like to study its impact in the interim period when the ban was imposed.

Rationale: Seeing the addictive potential of the contents of gutka and pan masala, it will be interesting to record the effect of ban of these products on the regular consumers. Whether they have stopped the consumption or are still getting the products (by smuggled routes) is an important issue. If they have shifted to other tobacco products, it will be important to study the shift pattern. If at all some withdrawal symptoms are reported by them, it will be helpful to record it so as to devise our cessation strategies. If the previous regular consumers have stopped the consumption of gutka and pan masala because of ban, it is positive sign in support of legal ban for the maintenance of proper public health. The response of gutka and pan masala users to the ban has to be studied. To what extent they have accepted the ban and what reaction they are giving are important issues to be studied. In depth analysis of all these points will be helpful in the development of further public health strategy as far as use of gutka and pan masala is concerned.

The second aspect of this study is to investigate the response and implications of tobacco vendors to the ban. In last few years there was tremendous increase in vendors of tobacco especially Gutka and Pan-masala. These products being cheaply available were marketed in almost all corners of cities and villages. Even public transport vehicle were also flooded by the presence of many street vendors. Ultimately all these vendors were working as the merchants of deadly tobacco products. So the study of the response of these people to ban is an issue of interest. The implication of the ban on them if studied in depth can help us to devise some strategy for their rehabilitation and preventive programmes to deter them from indulging into such type of business. We may also get some newer insights to strengthen the ban.

Aim and Objectives: