Ban on common salt; one lakh people deprived of jobs

Machilipatnam, June 1 (UNI) Since the re-imposition of the ban on sale of common salt (non iodised salt) in Andhra Pradesh, about one lakh people who depend on selling salt have been thrown out of employment.

The ban had been imposed by the Centre, under Section 23 of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act.

Meanwhile Machilipatnam Government Hospital Superintendent and a specialist in Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) Dr N Krishna Rao, told UNI that IDD continued to pose a serious threat to health, economic productivity and advancement of several hundred million people worldwide. People living in iodine deficient environment, consuming only locally grown food, suffer from reduced mental and physical abilities.

He said so far, 92 countries including China, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, Myanmar and Thailand were implementing compulsory salt iodisation for human consumption.

Globally, iodised salt was recognised as the cheapest and most sustainable way to prevent and control iodine deficiency.

Recent surveys covering 321 districts in all the 35 states and Union Territories show that 260 districts were endemic to IDD.

About 200 million people in the country were at the risk of IDD, while 71 million were suffering from the diorder, he added.

UNI