Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (AF)

Mangalore, May 5: The bidi industry owners and the workers are up in arms with the government once again, and this time the Bidi Industry and Workers' Welfare Committee is all set to stage a protest from Saturday May 5 to Friday May 11 against the notification to print pictures of skull and bones on bidi packets.

Addressing a press meet here on Friday May 4, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangha (BMS) district president Vishwanath Shetty said that the protest will be held in front of the deputy commissioner's officer between 9 am and 6 pm from May 5 to May 11, during which all work related to the bidi industry will come to a halt.

Though bidi workers union will not support the protest, BMS will back the bidi industry owners.

Shetty further said that since the label has to be printed in a particular size, the packets will have to be resized which will result in a price hike of the bidi. The demand for bidi will thereby lessen and nearly 4 lac workers in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts will be adversaly affected, he said.

The notification is supposed to be implemented by June 1. The violaters will be liable to punishment in the form of rigorous imprisonment and heavy penalty.

A memorandum will be submitted during the course of the protest to the health minister and the Prime Minister through the deputy commissioner.

AITC secretary Chandappa Anchan was present at the press meet.