Demand to ban gutkha named as ''My Teacher''

Mumbai, Feb 4 (PTI) Taking cognisance of complaintsreceived by teachers for naming a gutkha as ''My Teacher'',the Maharashtra government is contemplating a ban on its sale.

An NGO, Salaam Bombay foundation working against tobaccoproducts, met Minister of State for Home, Satej Patil recentlyobjecting to the use of the word ''teacher'' for the gutkhaproduct, produced in Gujarat.

"I have received over 3,000 signatures from teachersasking to ban the product and take action against theconcerned company for using the word. The department haswritten a letter to the Gujarat government on the issue andexpect reply from them soon," Patil told PTI.

The gutkha is produced at Silvasa and Gandhinagar areasin neighbouring Gujarat. Maharashtra only has distributorsof the product.

In the letter, Patil said, "Of teacher''s is a professionwho makes responsible citizens of India. The gutkha name sendswrong message to the society and it also violates the rule 62of the Prevention of Food and Adulteration Rules 1955, as itcontains prohibited anti-caking agent."

Objecting to the name of the gutkha, Principal of MarwadiCommercial High School and Junior College in South Mumbai,Shridhar Gharat said it absolutely sends a wrong message.

"The name would create wrong impression among studentsand the words ''My Teacher'' may attract them to buy it. TheGovernment should take strict action and ban the product,"Gharat said.