Latest


Mangalore: Bidi Workers Take to Streets Demanding More Work

  •   Tue, Nov 06 2012 09:23:58 PM

Mangalore: Bidi Workers Take to Streets Demanding More Work

Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (VM)

Mangalore, Nov 6: Bidi workers associated with South Kanara Bidi Worker’s Federation under the aegis of AITUC staged a protest in front of Ganesh Bidi Godown, Lalbagh here on Tuesday November 6.

The protest was organized against the cut down on workload over the past two months. The workers urged authorities not to cut down their work and instead give them more work.

As part of the protest, a memorandum with demands of Bidi workers was submitted to Nagesh Shetty, manager of South Kanara Home Industry (godown). In return, the manager assured to do his best in the interest of the workers.

Speaking on the occasion, P Sanjeeva, president of the federation said that for the past two months, the work has been cut down due to which the workers are finding it difficult to earn their bread.

"One of the main reasons for the reduction in work is that the company buys bidis from other sources at cheaper rates as they need not pay benefits like provident fund, bonus and others, unlike for permanent workers. This should not continue," he said, urging the management to resolve the matter soon.

Speaking to Daijiworld, manager Nagesh Shetty said that the management is trying to do its best in the interest of workers. He said the work has been decreased only by 15 percent as the management is helpless.

"The demand for bidi is very less these days and as a result we have a huge stock in the godown. This has resulted in less amount of work," he added.

"As per the minimum wages act, each worker has to be given a minimum of 800 bidis a day, failing which the management should provide wages to them," said VS Berinja, secretary of South Kanara Bidi Workers Federation.

M Karunakar, federation treasurer, M Shivappa Kotian, Vasanthi R Shetty, Sulochana among others were part of the protest.
  

Top Stories

Comment on this article

  • Blaan Mendonca, USA

    Tue, Nov 13 2012

    Ted your statement is false and you are lying that The United States and the Middle East are the major importers of Beedi and its shocking that 80% of Beedi consumers are teenagers in these countries,because of its economical pricing and easy availability.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Patric, Jeppu, mangalore

    Wed, Nov 07 2012

    Beedi is Poor people's "Cigarette". He can't smoke Cigarette, because of it's price. Cigarette's price is in control only because of low cost Beedi. If you are Cigarette smoker say thanks to Beedi Industry. Smoking or not smoking is depends on the people. Beedi workers are not forcing anyone to smoke. Smokers need Beedi, that'w why they rolling Beedi. It is not good to say put ban only on Beedi, it is better to request put ban on both Beedi and Cigarette, if you are more concerned about health. How's that Ted.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ted, Mangalore

    Wed, Nov 07 2012

    The United States and the Middle East are the major importers of Beedi and its shocking that 80% of Beedi consumers are teenagers in these countries,because of its economical pricing and easy availability. Will a Beedi worker allow his or her children to smoke Beedi which is 10 times more lethal than cigarettes?? Beedi production should be banned pan India or alternatively levied the highest tax rate to save innocent youngsters.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Gretta, Mangalore

    Wed, Nov 07 2012

    Dear Beedi workers please demand alternative jobs than asking for more beedi jobs.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Patric, Jeppu, mangalore

    Wed, Nov 07 2012

    Vivian Rodrigues, Mangalore/Dubai
    Drinking alcohol also injuries to health, is it possible to stop production of alcohol in our country.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lydia Lobo, Kadri

    Wed, Nov 07 2012

    Mohan,

    To grow a few vegetables or jasmine/other flowers you need not have hectares of land. I say this because a family got eye-allergy and a member partial disability due to exposure to tobacco. The family took up jasmine cultivating and are now earning in multiples compared to their previous trade. They are not huge land owners either.

    Perhaps you agree to TB/Asthma patients in Beedi-rolling people than a active and healthy habitat.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • mohan , mangalore

    Wed, Nov 07 2012

    lydia give land to poor beedi worker to grow vegitable

    DisAgree [7] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lydia Lobo, Kadri

    Wed, Nov 07 2012

    I agree Beedi-rolling contributed in great deal towards poor people's living but how long ? A mother can't handover he trade to son/daughter despite knowing the bad affects on our health ?

    Common people, do not bite the hand that fed you by demanding more work. Allover the world the tobacco is being banned - how come Beedi will be spared ?

    Take up flower growing (Jasmine for example) or vegetables which will give you more income than the Beedi rolling. Give some exercise to the body than just sitting and doing the work. At-least, do not allow the children to take up the trade but encourage them to study and find a better job !

    DisAgree [5] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • R.Bhandarkar., M

    Wed, Nov 07 2012

    I think they are the 'jigar se bidi jalailenewalle nahin roll karnewalle...!

    DisAgree [2] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mushtak, Belthangady/Dubai

    Wed, Nov 07 2012

    Nowadays following are news headlines
    Opinion of Tactlessness of Modi
    Politics of (Mamata) Didi
    Showbiz of some (villain) Kedi
    Why not…?
    Street demand of Company Chalo Chaluvali
    Hum bi ladenge...Jai ho bidi

    DisAgree Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Blaan Mendonca, USA

    Wed, Nov 07 2012

    Beedi workers are mostly women and children are employed in Beedi making. This occupation causes both Cancer and Tuberculosis. A beedi is a thin South Asian cigarette made of 0.2-0.3 g of tobacco flake wrapped in a Tendu or Kendu -Diospyrox melanoxylon, leaf and secured with colored thread at both ends. Rollers do no wear protective clothing, gloves or masks, and are exposed to tobacco dust through their skin and by inhaling the harmful particles As it is a cheap form of tobacco consumption, it is extremely popular among the non-affluent but it carries greater health risks as it delivers more nicotine, carbon monoxide and tar than conventional cigarettes. The relationship between the radioactive and nonradioactive carcinogens in leaf tobacco and tobacco smoke and the risk of cancer in those who inhale tobacco smoke. Tobacco smoking causes many types of cancer, including cancers of the lung, esophagus, larynx (voice box), mouth, throat, kidney, bladder, pancreas, stomach and cervix. About 70% of the lung cancer burden can be attributed to smoking alone. Second-hand smoke (SHS), also known as environmental tobacco smoke, has been proven to cause lung cancer in nonsmoking adults. Smokeless tobacco (also called oral tobacco, chewing tobacco or snuff) causes oral, esophageal and pancreatic cancer. After continuous beedi rolling by the women and children and exposure to tobacco, the skin
    on the beedi rollers fingertips begins to thin, and they are unable to roll beedis by the age of
    45.

    DisAgree Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vivian Rodrigues, Mangalore/Dubai

    Wed, Nov 07 2012

    SMOKING IS INJURIOUS TO HEALTH! Find another trade.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Patric, Jeppu, mangalore

    Tue, Nov 06 2012

    Beedi Industries is really a backbone of poor people of DK. Our mother did Beedi works to feed us. Whatever my position today I will never forget this Industry, we grown up with the help of this great industry. We have to support this industry, now days also so many poor family depending on Beedi works for livelihood and education of their children.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mohandas Kapikad, Mangaluru

    Tue, Nov 06 2012

    The Beedi Unions earlier every now & then used to make protests & strike. Its because of such tendency, over years slowly but steadly many Beedi company diverted their attention from Beedi industry towards other sectors. Some have moved out of Karnataka to other States, while others have reduced their operation size. Because of insane act of Union Leaders, the brunt has to be boarn the common beedi worker. Naturally this is the present stage. Good example is of Ganesh Beedi which long back moved for Kerala back to Karnataka after repeated threats & protest by Communists in Kerala. Though in Kerala then Dinesh Beedi was formed to rehabiliate beedi workers, eventually Dinesh Beedi too collapsed. Labour Dept. Officials cannot provide sufficient work, but can only order or bind the Beedi companies to do so. But with these tendencies, Beedi companies has been looking over years to gradually reduce their size of operation than to attract more risks of protests.

    DisAgree Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • ISMAIL.K.PERINJE, PERINJE-YANBU/KSA

    Tue, Nov 06 2012

    Bidi rolling one of the traditional occupation of undivided districts of DK/Udupi.Bidi manufacturers must maintain LOG BOOK/PASS BOOK/WAGES AS PER RULES/BONUS AND RETIREMENT/SERVICE BENEFITS AS PER LABOUR LAW.
    But the workers plea here may be true that to bunk all benefits to the workers,owners may outsource BIDI ROLLING/CONTRACT to non registered workers/Contractors as it could be profitable to them.

    On the other hand,BIDI,a harmful product like Cigarettes & other tobacco products need to ban gradually with a plan of rehabilitation of BIDI WORKERS.Some are how Bidi rolling has come to a minimum level for various reasons and GOVT OF INDIA/STATE need to look into the fact and do needful to help for these hapless Bidi rollers.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse


Leave a Comment

Title: Mangalore: Bidi Workers Take to Streets Demanding More Work



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.

You might also like