CAMPCO condemns ban on pan masala : Konkodi Padmanabha

CAMPCO condemns ban on pan masala : Konkodi Padmanabha

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, July 24, 2012: Speaking at a press meet held at CAMPCO on July 24, Tuesday, CAMPCO President Konkodi Padmanabha said that CAMPCO condemns the government’s move of banning gutka and pan masala although a number of people in Kerala and Karnataka earn their living by growing areca nut.

Stating that pan masala does not contain tobacco, he urged the government to conduct research on companies that add chemicals to pan masala instead of banning it on grounds that it contains tobacco.

 

 

He also said that the government must provide an alternative to crores of families who depend on their areca nut plantations for a living before banning it without any warning.

He revealed CAMPCO’s intention to file a petition in the Karnataka High Court on behalf of areca growers and demand justice for the farmers. CAMPCO has already submitted a memorandum to CM Jagadish Shettar, Food Minister D. N. Jeevaraj, Agriculture Minister S. A. Ravindranath and Health Minister Aravind Limbavalli, he added.

He also announced that CAMPCO, Puttur Vivekananda Institution, and ARDF will jointly organize Krishi Yantra Mela 2012 at Puttur Vivekananda Engineering College on Aug 2 – 4. Manufacturers of agricultural machinery will take part in this event and showcase their products to farmers. As many as 50,000 arecanut growers from Kerala and Karnataka are expected to take part. Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade, dharmadhikari of Dharmasthala, will inaugurate the mela, he said.