The Hindu Business Line : Beedi workers oppose ‘pictorial warning’

Hyderabad, Oct. 28 A group of farmers, beedi workers and pan shop owners have strongly opposed the move by the Union Health Ministry to make it mandatory for manufacturers to print pictorial warnings on tobacco products.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, Mr P. Chengal Reddy, General Secretary of the Consortium of Indian Farmers’ Associations (CIFA), said crores of people depended on tobacco farming and tobacco industry.

Livelihood

Nearly 3.5 crore people depend on tobacco farming, while 2 crore pan shop owners eke out a livelihood by selling tobacco products. The Government’s directive, which would come into force on December 1, would render them jobless, he said.

Plea to Sonia

Reminding about the letter written in 2002 by Ms Sonia Gandhi to the then Prime Minister, Mr A.B. Vajpayee, he said Ms Gandhi, who now heads UPA’s National Advisory Council, should stand by the promises she made when she was Leader of Opposition.

The Government discriminated against tobacco by imposing such restrictions, while leaving liquor and (horse) racing, the other two major social scourges, free of similar curbs, he lamented.

More Stories on : Tobacco | Health | Policy | Andhra Pradesh

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Fears of DAP shortage unfounded: Govt

Caution on Bengal gram, cumbu prices

Horticulture: Plan for upgrading research centres

Kerala PSUs under Agri Dept do well

Plea to make blending of ethanol with petrol mandatory

Good demand for CTC teas at N. Indian auctions

Cotton may consolidate, rise

Global meet on aluminium

Spandana Sphoorty forays into tractor, dairy finance

Maize futures may recover on lack of stocks

Coir sector opposes cess on turnover

Coir products to be sold in IOC outlets

Soyabean, groundnut set for record crop

Beedi workers oppose ‘pictorial warning’

Gold vulnerable to short-term correction