Gutka chewers say yes to ban

Mangalore Jun 7: Even as discussions are being held over the move of the  Congress government in the state to ban gutka, the ones who should actually be worried-'the gutka eaters' have welcomed the move calling it as a 'life saving act'. Even the 'pan beeda' shops which used to eke out considerable size of income with the gutka sales seem to be happy with the ban, despite the loss.

Speaking to coastal digest, Mr Rangappa, a Pan Beeda shop owner says that he used to have huge sale of gutka prior to the ban and since the ban, there are hardly any one approaching him asking for one.

"Since gutka was a part of their daily life and was available in handsome amount, they could not resist themselves. Those who are extremely addicted to gutka are proficient to acquire it even after it is banned from their own known sources," says Rangappa.

Many habitual gutka eaters feel that the passion and degree of addiction to gutka is not as intriguing as the addiction to smoking.

Like any other addiction, even the gutka chewing habit starts with the peer pressure or due to stress, which slowly grows to become an addiction.

Ramesh, an auto driver says that unlike the chain smokers and addicts of other intoxicating substances, the ones addicted to gutka do not turn violent if they do not get their daily dose of gutka.

One of the huge market for gutka has always been the bus drivers. It is said that chewing gutka improves their concentration level. However, even this section has respected the ban and accepted it.

Narayan, bus driver says that he was addicted to gutka since last few years. "As ban is implemented I have stopped consuming it and I am capable of focusing on my driving even with same dexterity," he says.

While many felt that ban in gutka will fuel the sales of pan-beeda, the beeda shop owners say that the ban has had no impact on the sales of pan so far.

One more interesting fact is that some greedy petty shop owners are making the best use of the ban by selling the available gutka at much much higher price. But, there are some petty shop owners who believe in doing business with righteousness.

Bhaskar, a petty shop owner in the city says that when the government has banned gutka sale, he does not believe in selling it clandestinely.

Rajanna owns a petty shop at Kankanady since last 10 years and he says that he was able to run the shop even before gutka entered the market. Inevitably he does not deny the fact of ban having implication on his current profit. 'I don't want to feed my family by selling fatal products to society especially young generation' says Rajanna.

All in all the ban of gutka has been received well and by and large everyone is respecting it as a decision for the good of all.