For Murugan, a 34-year old migrant labourer from Tamil Nadu who came to Kochi for daily wage jobs, the state government’s decision to ban pan masala products was a bolt from the blue. Being an addict to the pan products for over a decade, he just could not quit that habit overnight.
But, Murugan is a much relieved man now, as the ban really did not wipe out pan products from the city.
Local people and migrant labourers including Murugan are still hot customers of the flourishing pan trade here.
Pan masala products are abundantly available in petty shops in the city and other parts of the district despite the ban instituted by the state government.
Unlike earlier, petty shops now do not hang pan masala in ‘chains’ as they think it would attract the attention of the police. Instead they store it inside a cover or box, so that they can sell it when regular customers ask for it.
“The government has banned pan masala products. But, I still manage to get it from petty shops,” said a 28-year-old youngster in the city on condition of anonymity.
“You cannot just go to a petty shop and buy it. You have to ask for it twice or thrice. But, several shops charge double the amount for it,” he added.
Spurious packs of pan masala have also allegedly come into the market. According to pan shop owners the price of gutka and pan masala in plastic pouches has increased many folds.
A pouch which was earlier being sold for Rs 2 is now being sold for Rs 4 and pouches sold at Rs 1 are being sold at Rs 3. Despite this hike in price the demand for these carcinogenic products has not declined.
Apart from a few raids conducted in the city, the police are pretty clueless about the underground trade of pan products.
Though they claim they were able to put a lid on the pan trade here, the truth is that the business is still flourishing behind the scenes.