Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiword Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Mar 17: Thousands of bidi workers from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kasargod districts descended on the streets of city on Tuesday March 17 in protest against the union government over the proposed Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) (Amendment) Bill 2015.

The protest was organized under the banner of CITU and AITUC. The protestors marched from Town Hall to DC's office where a protest meet was held. They demanded the withdrawal of the proposed Bill which they said would put the bidi workers in problems and kill the bidi industry.

The protestors said that there are 10 lac bidi workers in the three districts of DK, Udupi and Kasargod, who depend on bidi work for their livelihood. "The bidi industry helps the economy which in turn contributes to setting up of schools, hospitals, banks and others businesses," they pointed out.

Addressing the gathering, Prasanna Kumar, state chief secretary of CITU said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government is curbing the bidi industry. This Act will kill the industry. The government is taking this step without studying the guidelines of WHO and FCC.This Act will hit the industry and create unemployment, hence before bringing about any Act, let the government study the issue thoroughly. The govenment should create alternative arrangements for bidi workers to make them economically stable. After that, the government can do whatever it wants.

"Earlier, a person above 18 could purchase bidi, but the union government has increased this age limit to 21 years. The union government is taking this step to please the corporate sector," he added.

"What will the government do about excise duty collected from bidi industry? Though Rs 6,000 crore was supposed to be given as pension to bidi workers, it has not been done, but union finance minister Arun Jaitley says this is because nobody is claiming the pension and hence the government is using this money for BPL card holders. This is our money and our right. The Modi government is thinking of building Hindu Rashtra and dividint the people," he said.

"There are 10 lac bidi workers in the three districts and the government should provide them health facilities and financial stability; after that its can do whatever it wants," he reiterated.

Seetharam Berinje, chief secretary of AITUC, said, "During elections MLAs and MPs seek votes from bidi workers but when bidi workers face problems and have no proper facilities, they do not care to respond. We condemn this stand of the government and demand that the Bill be withdrawn as it would affect the bidi industry which is the livelihood of several lacs of people.

The protestors later submitted a memorandum to the union government through deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim.