Paan, gutkha near colleges, schools

Even though the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare recently sent a missive to the state government asking it to crack down on paan and gutkha shops near schools and other educational institutions, it did not seem to have much effect on such paan shops across the city. Though the city branch of the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) claimed to have launched a special drive against the sale of tobacco products near educational institutes, saying such shops would be cleared in two days, MiD DAY did a survey and found the situation on the ground had not changed.

Forget about stopping the sale of gutkha products completely, the FDA could not even manage to shut such shops down on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day yesterday. MiD DAY visited a dozen colleges and schools in various areas across the city and found that shops selling tobacco products were not only flourishing but also unaware of such a drive by the FDA. Here is what we found.

Fergusson College, Deccan
There are two paan shops within 100 metres of the college; one is right opposite the main college entrance, on the other side of the road, while the other one is a little distance away.u00a0MiD DAY visited these shops and found that not only did they sell gutkha products, but also cigarette packets. Enquires in the neighbourhood revealed that these shops were frequented mostly by college students.

Principal R B Pardeshi said he was aware of the problem but was helpless to take action. "I know there are paan shops selling tobacco products near the college and I haven't taken action against them. That's because these shops have been there for many years and I have no authority to move them. All I can do is spread awareness among our students about the ill effects of tobacco," he said.

SP College, Tilak Road
We noticed a paan shop tucked away in a quiet corner on the opposite road, barely 50 metres from the main entrance of the college building. The shop stacked a wide range of cigarette packets and even gutkha products. Principal Dilip Seth said that the responsibility for removing these stalls did not lie with the college as the stalls did not belong to it. "I know that these shops are pushing our youngsters towards addiction and I am well aware that my students buy cigarettes and gutkha packets from these shops. But can I remove them from the area? I can't do that," Seth said.

Modern College, Shivajinagar
Just opposite the gate, MiD DAY noticed that a shop selling gutkha packets was open. Students said that this was not the only shop and there were others too in the 10-metre radius, but most were shut when we visited the college. Presumably, they must have got a whiff of the FDA campaign. Principal Rajendra Junzarrao said, "We haven't complained to any authorities, but instead we have complied by the rules told to us. We have put up warning signs for students near all college entrance gates, asking them to refrain from tobacco consumption. The government authorities should look into this rising problem," he said.

Vikhe Patil Memorial School, S B Road
We saw a tea stall within 100 metres of the school gate and upon enquiry found that the vendor sold gutkha packets openly to students. School authorities too agreed that they were fed up with this menace.
"We had complained to the civic authorities and they had come and stopped the stall in between for a while but it has come up again. The problem is that there isn't a permanent solution; if they are taken away once, they still come back as the locals support them. Though the problem has reduced, it still exists and we are aware but helpless," said Vice-Principal Kiran Jadhav.

'Will take action'
Assistment Commissioner of FDA, Pune, Chandrashekhar Salunkhe said that the FDA had launched a two-day drive against these issues. "We have started a crackdown and if you give us a detailed list we will ensure these shops are shut down as well," he said. Despite repeated attempts, PMC medical officer R R Pardeshi and assistant medical officer Vaishali Jadhav refused to talk, stating that they were busy in meetings.0

What the law says
Under the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003, selling of cigarettes and other tobacco products within 100 metres of schools and colleges is prohibited. According to FDA officials, any vendor found selling cigarette and tobacco items within 100 yards of schools and colleges will be taken to task. The entire stock of the cigarette and tobacco products found in possession of vendors within 100 yards of schools, colleges will be seized and the vendor will have to pay a fine equivalent to the worth of the stock seized. The act empowers heads of schools and colleges to take action against such vendors operating within 100 yards of their premises. They can take the help of the police, civic and FDA officials.