Madhya
Pradesh CM Shivraj Chouhan announced in Bhopal on Tuesday that Value Added Tax
on tobacco products would be brought on par with that of neighbouring states.
“We will enforce the law and VAT on tobacco products would be brought on par
with Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh,” Mr. Chouhan said during a function to
observe World Cancer Day.
He
added that from March 15, all district hospitals would provide free generic
cancer medication for patients with prescriptions. Health Secretary Pravir
Krishna said that generic chemotherapy would also be made available at district
hospitals in phases. “Personnel are being trained by All India Institute of
Medical Sciences, Bhopal to provide chemotherapy. This will begin in 10
district hospitals and will gradually be spread to all district hospitals,” he
told The Hindu.
MP
was the second state to ban gutkha, in 2011, after Goa. The ban under the Food
Safety and Standards (Prohibition & Restrictions on sales) Regulations 2011
prohibits the mixing of tobacco or any nicotine in any food product which
includes gutkha-a powder of arecanut, paraffin, slaked lime and flavours consumed
orally. However dealers have found a loophole by selling tobacco and gutkha
separately which is mixed by the shop. An Expert Committee of the state
government is looking into ways and means to practically enforce the ban.
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