The Hindu Business Line : Beedi workers flay Centre's policies

THE Centre's policies relating to unorganised sector came in for criticism at the all-India convention of beedi workers at Ullal in Mangalore on Tuesday.

The President of the Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Dr M.K. Pandhe, said that the Centre's policies on unorganised sector are same as that of the NDA Government.

Though the Common Minimum Programme mentions protecting small-scale industries, beedi industry has been left out. The Government is neglecting traditional industries in the process of attracting investments from multinational companies, he said.

Referring to a Bill on unorganised sector prepared by the previous NDA Government, he said that Bill did not have provision for minimum wages, good working condition, retirement benefits and social security.

CITU would oppose any move to introduce such Bill. He suggested that the UPA Government come out with a comprehensive Bill for beedi workers.

Some of the directives of the Government are difficult to implement, and they only help the mini-cigarette segment, he said. The Government, which has directed the manufacturers not to place beedis in bundles, has asked them to keep it in cartons, similar to cigarettes. Beedi industry cannot accept that direction, as that process will add to the cost of production.

Referring to another directive, where the beedi manufacturers were asked to indicate the percentage of nicotine on the cartons, Dr Pandhe said, "Such conditions are affecting beedi industry." Not even big beedi manufacturers can afford to do this. Instead, the Government should impose more tax on cigarette industry, he said.

He said removal of restriction on the import of several items, including "tendu" leaves, has affected the beedi industry. Instead, the Government could think of imposing tax on imported items, he said.

`Lack of benefits': Though beedi workers are entitled for provident fund (PF) facility, most of them are denied the benefits. Some manufacturers consider beedi workers as self-employed persons as they work from their residence. He lauded the West Bengal Government for coming out with a separate PF facility for beedi workers.

Most of the manufacturers do not adhere to the rule of providing maternity benefits to women beedi workers, he said.

Considering the need for housing facilities, the CITU has built a separate township for beedi workers at Sholapur. It has built nearly 10,000 houses there. The Government has agreed to increase the amount for house construction from Rs 25,000 to Rs 40,000, for beedi workers, he added.

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