Daijiworld News Network – Mangalore (AF)

Mangalore, Dec 23: The Central Board of Excise and Customs in the department of revenue in union ministry of finance has finally decided to consider bidi as a hand-made product and not machine-made.

A circular dated December 6 from the government states that keeping in view the fact that rolling and other processes involved in the manufacture of bidi are not mechanised, bidi will be considered a hand-made product even if the labels or wrappers are machine-made.

Notice has been sent to all chief commissioners of central and excise departments to put the order in to action immediately. The decision to print warning on the labels has also been postponed by four months.

A press release issued by Naveen D’Souza stated that he was thankful to union minister for labour Oscar Fernandes for his support and for passing the order. He further said that Fernandes has also assured of revoking the VAT order on the bidi industry.

Earlier this month, a delegation of members of Akhila Bharat Bidi Utpadakara Sangh Parishat led by Naveen D’Souza had met Oscar Fernandes and urged to him to revoke the government order regarding bidi as mechanised product and the VAT order. Following this, Fernandes had assured his full support to the bidi industry.