Lockdown 3.0: UP govt okays sale of paan masala, opening stationery, book shops

During the third phase of nationwide lockdown to contain coronavirus spread, Yogi government has lifted the ban on the manufacture and sale of 'paan masala' though does not allow gutka and tobacco in the state. Meanwhile, it has also allowed stationery and book shops to open in the green and orange zones in Uttar Pradesh.

Lucknow:The Yogi government has lifted the ban on the manufacture and sale of 'paan masala' in Uttar Pradesh. The sale of 'gutka' and tobacco, however, will not be allowed.

Commissioner Food Safety and Drug Administration Anita Singh has issued the order saying that the exemption is for plain paan masala. The ban on the manufacture, storage and sale of tobacco and nicotine-free pan masala/gutkha in the state will continue unchanged.

The state government has also allowed stationery and book shops to open in the green and orange zones, maintaining social distancing norms amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Though many government and private schools have started giving online classes amid the lockdown, students claimed the unavailability of books was affecting the studies.

The sale of books and stationery has been welcomed by parents and students who said that online classes, in the absence of books, were made difficult for them.

"We have been getting queries from parents on how students can study without books. The concrete studies can start only when students have books," said Rita Kaushal, a teacher in a local secondary school.

(IANS report)