Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (BG)

Mangalore, Dec 16: “There is no ban on arecanut and the farmers of the state need not panic or worry in this regard,” said state health and family welfare minister U T Khadar on Monday December 16 addressing media persons at the circuit house.

“Tobacco and nicotine are cancer causing agents and any food items that are mixed with these two substances have been banned. Thus, gutka was banned. But arecanut has no such cancer causing agents nor is it poisonous. Hence, there is no reason to ban arecanut and the farmers and agriculturists who grow arecanut need not worry,” he added.

“The central government has asked for submission of a report on arecanut.  It has been sent and there is no mention anywhere of a ban. It has also been scientifically proven that arecanut is harmless. The opposition parties have been trying to spread the news of a ban and simply giving paper statements. They must not do that as they have no right to do it because they have not even gone through the reports that have been submitted,” said Khadar.

“Oscar Fernandes, Veerappa Moily, Janardhan Poojary, and I have discussed this matter and also submitted a letter to Ghulam Nabi Azad, union minister for health and family welfare, rendering our support to arecanut farmers,” he elaborated.

“For mental patients, as a part of their treatment and rehabilitation programme, the state government has come out with special plans. An amount of Rs 18 lac will be given by the state government every year to any hospital that sets aside 10 beds for the treatment, rehabilitation, and counseling of these patients. Any hospital or NGO which is keen in looking after them but has no place of its own for this purpose, will be reimbursed upto Rs 20,000 by the state government,” added Khadar.