The decision is as per the recommendations of the Central government. The Union Ministry for Health and Family Welfare said that spitting in public could lead to the spread of COVID-19. The habit of chewing smokeless tobacco products (gutkha, zarda, khaini and paan masala) and areca nut (supari) is quite rife in India. The chewing increase the production of saliva which then leads to people spitting in public. The walls of various public places – markets in particular – are stained by the spittle of those who chew such products.
It is not enough to merely ban the use of these products during the time of the COVID-19 crisis. There have to be restrictions throughout the year, as these do not merely lead to the bad habit of spitting in public places, but the chewing is also bad for health. As pointed out by a doctor, the consumption of these products leads to the spread of diseases dangerous to life such as tuberculosis, hepatitis, influenza, swine flu, pneumonia, gastro-intestinal diseases, coronavirus (COVID-19) and other persistent infectious diseases. This is reason enough to stop the use of these products, and the current circumstances could be the best time to make a start. The Health Minister has said that besides the exisiting anti-tobacco law, the State will take action against violators of these provisions under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, the Disaster Management Act, 2005 as well as various provisions of the Indian Penal Code 1860. It Goa can be strict now, can it also be as firm later?
The sale of tobacco products has currently been banned, but the Mayor of Panjim is on record stating that some shops are selling these illegally. He has warned them of action if they do not stop this illegal sale. But, why warn the shop owners of action? If the stores are indulging in an illegal activity, why can’t there be action taken immediately? It certainly does not require a warning, as then those who are illegally selling the product won’t take the administration and the law seriously, but continue to undertake their nefarious activities. This is exactly what is happening, and it has to be stopped.
For the State, taking action in this case is easy. It has already armed itself with the Goa Prohibition of Smoking and Spitting Act, which bans both these actions in public places. Yet, both practices continue, with spitting not having abated at all. On entering a restaurant one does notice a sign displayed that announces smoking is an offence, but why not such signs prohibiting spitting in all public places? Why not make it an offence that can be imponded immediately, just as is done with certain traffic violations? This would surely cause the offenders to think twice if they were to fear that they could be made to pay a fine on the spot for spitting in public.
Goa had a very successful experience with the Traffic Sentinel Scheme, wherein people photographed traffic violations and sent the pictures to a certain number. Based on this, challans were issued to the violators. Perhaps a similar scheme could make it work to stop spitting in public. The success of the traffic sentinel scheme was that the authorities could send the challans to the registered address of the vehicle owner. Catching somebody spitting on camera and later sending a challan may not work very well a identity problems would arise. Hence, a different method may have to be developed, but once it becomes known that there are people waiting to catch a person spitting in public, the practice will eventually reduce.