Beedi industry grinds to a halt in Karnataka

The beedi industry in Karnataka has come to a grinding halt with beedi rollers joining the protest launched by manufacturers against the Federal Government’s directive to compulsorily print prominent pictorial health warnings on beedi packets.

More than a million beedi workers in Karnataka concentrated in Mysore, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts have stopped rolling beedis in response to the manufacturers’ call to close down production for a week from May 5 to 11 in a bid to bring pressure on the Federal Government to withdraw its “draconian” measure.

The Federal Government has made it mandatory for beedi manufacturers to print prominently a skull, a human corpse, cross bones and a text message in bold letters on all beedi packets.

The beedi manufacturers and the workers, who have formed a joint front to wage a struggle against the Government ruling, have planned a series of protests including demonstrations and road-blockades to force the Government to withdraw its order.

President of the Beedi Manufacturers and Workers Association from Dakshina Kannada Chandappa Anchan said the Government’s directive to print the pictorial warnings was a “ploy” to finish off the beedi industry and make way for mini-cigarettes to enter the market.

If the Government does not withdraw its order by May 11, Anchan threatened that beedi workers will block every main road in Mangalore.

Meanwhile, hundreds of beedi workers took out a march through the main thoroughfares of Mysore to register their protest against the Government’s directive on the pictorial health warnings.

The protestors, who took out a march under the aegis of Mysore Beedi Mazdoor Association led by former Minister Tanvir Sait, staged a road blockade at K R Circle for about half an hour.

Sait said an appeal will be made to the Members of the Parliament from Karnataka to take up the issue with the Federal Government as the directive will sound the death knell of the beedi industry, which provides employment to more than a million beedi workers in the State.