Centre's notification to print skull mark on beedi packets opposed

Mysore, May 5 (UNI) About 25 lakhs beedi workers are in distress in Karnataka, thanks to the policies of the Central Government which has proposed to order printing of skull mark on beedi packets compulsory, Mysore Beedi Mazdoor Association President and former minister Tanveer Sait said here today.

In a release he said that beedi industry was supporting the livelyhood of poor beedi makers in 11 districts in the state including Mysore, Mangalore, Gadag, Belgaum, Hubli and Dharwad.

The notification issued by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry to print skull mark on beedi bundles had threatened the livelyhood of the beedi workers in Mysore region, he said.

Supporting the week-long bandh called by the All India Beedi Industry Federation (AIBIF) against the implementation of the order, which began today, he appealed to the industry against forcing beedi workers to stop working as that would force them to starve. However, the Association would support the bandh, he said.

He said the was association also against the state government imposing 12 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) on Tobacco products in the recent budget. He urged Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa to withdraw the decision as it would affect the industry.

UNI