Assam bill on banning smokeless tobacco

Assam is all set to table a bill to ban manufacturing, sale and storage of all kinds of smokeless tobacco products in the state.

Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the bill would be tabled in the assembly in the ongoing budget session. He said the bill was awaiting clearance from the cabinet, after which it will be tabled in the assembly.

"Assam will be first state to bring such a historic legislation," said Sarma.

Sarma said the proposed move of the government was aimed at checking incidences of oral cancer in the state. As per government figures, Assam has a total of 4,443 registered cancer patients, with the male-female break-up being 2,597:1,846. Kamrup district has the highest number of cancer patients with 986 (male-550, female-436).

The government had recently vide a notification had banned manufacturing, sale, display and storage of guthka and pan masala which contains tobacco or nicotine. These goods have been banned under the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. However, the government's move has witnessed widespread criticism from the traders and petty pan-shop owners. Many have also questioned the government's only move to ban smokeless tobacco and not cigarettes.