Mangalore, Dec 17: The state government is ready to protect the arecanut grower. There is no ban on arecanut and the farmers of the state need not panic or worry in this regard. Regarding to this issue I will write letter to central minister Oscar Fernadis and central health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said state health and family welfare minister U T Khadar on Monday December 16.
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.
Khader further said that 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.
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.
