ABBMS demands withdrawal of Government Order

Tirupati, Feb 13 (UNI) Citing new government policies, which was detrimental to the interests of Beedi industry, Akhil Bharatiya Beedi Mazdoor Mahasangh (ABBMS) has demanded that the Centre and state government should withdraw the Government Order (GO) directing printing of warning symbol ''skull and two bones'' on beedi packets.

A resolution to this effect was adopted at the ninth national conference of the ABBMS, a statement said today.

The statement also quoted ABBMS National General Secretary Satyanarayana Dass as saying, ''the meet had demanded that the Centre cancel the permission accorded to industries to manufacture 'mini-cigarettes', which would badly affect one crore workers, including dalits, miniorities and women in the beedi industry.'' The meeting also urged the government to supply the required quantity of 'beedi leaves' and repeal the 'khat and chat' system followed in procurement of the beedi leaves.

It also passed other resolutions including revision of beedi workers wage, medical facility to all beedi workers and sanction of houses, besides demanding constitution of village level-tripartite committee to look into the issues of beedi workers and also formation of a single agency for governing the industry to implement all acts including the welfare schemes related to beedi workers.

The meet also demanded that the government should withdraw the VAT on beedi.

About 200 delegates from ten states including Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Orissa, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh participated in the two-day meet, the statement added.

UNI