IT News
Imphal, Nov. 4:
Betel leaves or some tobacco products are not listed as illegal item, but following the COVID-19 pandemic , as the use of tobacco products either in the form of pan (betel leaf wrapped supari amd tobacco product along with other intoxicants have been banned by an order of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, issued on April 10, 2020 as it has the tendency to spread the COVID-19 pandemic. The notification has been forwarded to all the Chief Secretary of every state and the government of Manipur too has banned use of pan and other tobacco product using betel leaves by an order issued on April 20, 2020. However, the items particularly – betel leaves and other tobacco product are trading freely by even transporting it by air and by road.
Considering the situation with extreme seriousness, Kangleipak Students’ Association (KSA) has warned all traders of betel leaves and tobacco as well as other intoxicants to surrender before November 15 failing which the student body said that consequences fallen out of it have to be borne by them.
The KSA said that Manipur today has the highest number of COVID-19 affected people if compare the population with other state. A statement said that the KSA had also decided to write to the Airport Authority to ban transportation of betel leaves, while appealing truckers to stop transportation of betel leaves.
