[Intl-tobacco] Beedi workers oppose ban on smoking (fwd)

[Robert Weissman]

Beedi workers oppose ban on smoking
Source: SouthNexus, Saturday, 3/31/01

MANGALORE, Mar 31: Proposed legislation to ban smoking in public places
will harm the interests of Beedi workers and Government should not go
ahead with it, urged T Govindan, Kasaragod MP.

Participating in the protest rally organised by SK Beedi Workers
Federation at Town Hall in the city on Friday, he said, a large number of
families will go without bread by this proposed legislation. Beedi workers
from Mangalore and Udupi districts participated in the rally in a large
number.

He said, in India, three crore people are involved in tobacco related
businesses and we grow 70 lakh tonn tobacco and added that tobacco fetches
Rs 850 crore foreign exchange for the country and Rs 100 crore tax is
being generated from it.

He talked in detail about the on going fight in Kerala against the High
Court order against smoking in public places.

K R Shrian, president of the federation presided over the function. CITU
leaders B Madhav, C Nanjundappa, Sanjeeva Bangera, Lokayya were present.

Secretary J Balakrishna Shetty welcomed and Sukumar proposed the vote of
thanks.