Cost of chewing tobacco

THE hazards of tobacco chewing have been exemplified by Khushwant Singh through his personal experience "Cost of chewing paan masaala" (June 12).

The columnist’s case is not an isolated one. The consumption of tobacco is today a monster that is sure to strike many more men and women, and even children. But then, who cares? The government’s proposal to impose a blanket ban on the distribution and selling of chewing tobacco across the country, has led to a flurry of activity.

There are claims and counter-claims, on both sides (manufacturers of cigarettes and manufacturers of chewing tobacco), and each one is trying to impress on the hapless addict that their product is in fact superior and of course, less harmful. Tobacco barons are busy justifying the existence of their Rs 1200 crore industry and claim that the powerful cigarette lobby is weighing down heavily on the government to bring such a ban into effect. That chewing tobacco leads to OSF (oral submucous fibrosis) of the mouth is vehemently refuted by them by attributing to it several other reasons like keeping the mouth unhygienic.

Then where do we go from here? A ban, if it comes into being will only increase the business opportunities of the powerful MNC tobacco companies in the country. And no ban ever works. It only results in smuggling and spurious products which are all the more harmful. The government is today at a razor’s edge. On the one hand, if it goes ahead with the ban, what will happen to the millions of people whose daily bread depends on this industry? On the other, if it decides not to impose such a ban, is the impact of paan masaala on our health something which can be ignored? After all, even if the manufacturers claim that their product is not harmful when compared to cigarettes, is not the increasing incidence of fibrosis, dental decay and oral cancer indications in this direction?

K.M.VASHISHT
Mansa

Western fashions

Apropos of Thakur Paramjit’s article "Looking beautiful in summer" (June 12), our younger generation is copying the west in every walk of life, by discarding Indian culture, customs, festivals, dress and outfits. To popularise fashions in dresses, which are imitations of western dresses, fashion shows are being held even in small towns. The tastes of men and women in matters of dress have become similar, so much so, that it is often difficult to distinguish a boy from a girl.

Most of the foreigners come to India to get a feel of the spiritual and cultural splendour that this country offers, but are dismayed to see us and our younger generation aping the west in dress, language, outfits and food habits. While in India they like to wear traditional Indian dresses such as sari, salwar kameez, Rajasthani choli-ghagra etc, and take the same with them for their friends and relatives.

O.P. SHARMA
Faridabad

Rural development

Apropos "A role model for the entire country" by Reeta Sharma (June 12), we the so-called educated ones, are selfish and self-centred enough to forget our own rural brothers and sisters. We do not think of development and progress beyond our own families. If more people emulate the example of Dr B.V. Paramasawara Rao the face of rural India can be totally changed and that will mean genuine development as 80 per cent of India resides in villages.

A.K. Sharma
Patiala