John Wilbert and Sarthak Kanjilall
Port Blair, May 18: Considering the COVID- 19 pandemic and also because spitting in public places by people after chewing pan, tobacco and other products may spread COVID-19 virus to others, the Government of India banned tobacco products such as gutkha, zarda, khaini and paan masala in entire country but in Andaman and Nicobar Islands it has been observed that smokeless tobacco is sold openly in many places making a mockery of the law.
As per government, while spitting in public increases the dangers of the COVID-19 spread, chewing of smokeless tobacco products (gutkha, zarda, khaini and paan masala) and areca nut (supari) increases the production of saliva followed by a very strong urge to spit.
According to information available with Andaman Sheekha, a particular brand of Zarda that costs around Rs 130 is being sold in the market at Rs 300 whereas in some places the selling price of the said Zarda is Rs 500. One can imagine the amount of profit made by a few during the lockdown.
Now the million-dollar question is when Tobacco is banned in the entire country by the Government of India then how some people are selling these products in these Islands.
To check the ground reality Andaman Sheekha correspondent visited a few shops to buy Tobacco and it has been found that one shop at Port Blair was selling the Zarda at Rs 300, whereas each pan costs around Rs 50, in some places . One shop owner offered to sell 3 tins of Zarda to Andaman Sheekha at Rs. 900. He also refused to negotiate the price.
When Andaman Sheekha contacted the District Commissioner, South Andaman, Mr. Abhisekh Dev, he said that tobacco was not banned during the time of lockdown but now the selling of tobacco is allowed but with restrictions of not spitting it in public places.
The DC also said that if any retailer is selling the Tobacco higher the rate of the Maximum Retail Price then one can approach the Civil Supplies Department.
It seems as if now all is well. The people who wanted to sell Zarda during first three lockdowns, managed to sell the products without any problems, the Pan lovers are also happy that they got sufficient supply but the purpose of banning Zarda, and other tobacco products is clearly defeated in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
