60 lakh bidi workers to go on strike from Nov 20

Allahabad, Nov 5 (UNI) About sixty lakh 'bidi' workers would go on an indefinite strike from November 20 if the government does not take back its notification of February 2 last for the printing of skull and cross bones with health warning and messages on packages.

Talking to newspersons here today, Samajwadi Party MP Shyama Charan Gupta-- the patron of Uttar Pradesh 'bidi' and 'patta udyog samiti' said the printing of skulls and cross bones with health warning and message in maximum two languages on packages was the most unwarranted requirement as it would kill the industry.

Mr Gupta stated the government's proposal to impose Value Added Tax (VAT) in bidi industries with effect from February 1, 2007 would mean an increase in the final price to the consumer.

He said in some states, the Central Excise Department has issued notices treating handmade bidi as machine made for charging excise duty, while the matter is pending before the Tribunal.

He added ''the multinational companies are planning to kill the bidi industry for enjoying monopoly in the industry also. It would ultimately throw a large number of bidi workers unemployed.'' Meanwhile, the President of the Samiti Laiquir Rehman said this notification would not only snatch bread and butter of 60 lakh workers but also ruin the lives of 'adivasis', who are engaged in the plucking of tendu leaves.

He questioned ''if the smoking of bidi is killing 2500 people daily in India, how many persons are killed by wine and why the government is not banning the sale of liquors.'' UNI JL ATI DKS KP1832