Sikkim bans gutkha

The government of Sikkim has banned the sale, distribution and storage of gutkha, a form of chewing tobacco. This makes Sikkim the second state in the north-east after Mizoram to ban gutkha. The notification issued on September 17 bans all food items containing gutkha and nicotine. A large number of people in Sikkim—25.6 per cent—consume gutkha. Twelve other states have already banned gutkha; these are: Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Bihar, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana, Jharkhand, Punjab, Chandigarh, Mizoram, Delhi and Gujarat.

Delhi government decides to ban gutkha

The government of Delhi has decided to ban the sale, manufacture and storage of gutkha, a form of chewing tobacco. The decision was taken at a high level meeting in Delhi Secretariat on September 10. The ban would be applicable once the notification is issued, says a press statement released by the state health department.  The ban applies to all the food items containing gutkha and nicotine.