Gutkha ban in Karnataka leaves arecanut growers in the lurch

The Karnataka government should have come out with alternatives to arecanut growers before banning gutkha, according to the Mangalore MP.

Addressing presspersons here on Saturday, Nalin Kumar Kateel, Mangalore MP, said that he does not oppose the ban on ‘gutkha’. However, the government should have suggested alternatives to farmers, who will be affected by this ban on ‘gutkha’.

Karnataka contributes a major share to the total arecanut output in the country.

Stating that the previous State government had initiated a meeting with the stakeholders in the arecanut sector to find an alternative solution, he said the present government should take the step forward to find an alternative to the arecanut growers who will be affected by the ban.

Addressing reporters at Puttur in Dakshina Kannada district earlier, B. Ramanatha Rai, Dakshina Kannada district in-charge Minister, said the State government had taken a decision to ban ‘gutkha’ following a directive from the Supreme Court in this regard. Steps will be taken to protect the interests of arecanut growers in the state, he said.

Manchi Srinivasa Achar, president of All-India Areca Growers’ Association, said the State government should have held consultations with the elected representatives and arecanut cooperatives before taking a decision on banning ‘gutkha’ in the State.

Arecanut is one of the ingredients of ‘gutkha’, and it is not harmful to the health, he claimed, adding that the other chemical ingredients in the ‘gutkha’ are harmful to health. The government should have created awareness about these harmful chemical ingredients, he said.

>vinayak.aj@thehindu.co.in

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