Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (AF)

Mangalore, May 8: While the bidi manufacturers are on a bundh till Friday May 11 in protest against the government’s notification to print skull and bones on bidi packs, the South Kanara Bidi Workers’ Federation has called the bundh as illegal and demanded immediate resumption of work.

Speaking to press persons here on Monday May 7, All-India Bidi Workers’ Federation working president B Madhava said that the Federation will stage a protest in front of bidi management depots throughout the district and demand payment of wages for days on which the industry was closed down in protest against the government.

He further said that though CITU was as concerned about saving the bidi industry as the managements, complete closure of the industry was not a solution for the problem.

Stating that CITU has been working for the cause of the bidi workers for long , he termed the recent notification to print skull and bones on the bidi packs as ‘dangerous’ that will put lacs of bidi workers’ lives at stake.

Among those present were Federation president J Balakrishna Shetty, secretary Sukumar Thokkotu and CITU district secretary Vasantacharya.