Kavitha backs beedi industry protest to reduce danger sign

Hyderabad: Supporting livelihood of beedi workers in the state, Nizamabad MP K Kavitha urged B Dattatraya, Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment to protect the beedi industry in the state by reducing the size of danger sign carrying skull with bones on beedi bundles.

The meeting was held at Dilkusha Guest House on Sunday wherein she handed over the letter to Dattatraya stating her displeasure over centre's stand to enlarge the sign of skull with bones from 45 percent to 85 percent on beedi bundles.

She urged Dattatraya to quash the GO 727 on beedi industry to protect the livelihood of nearly 1.5 crore workers in the state. Majority of the workers are women who eke out living working at beedi industry and if the GO is not repealed it would hamper the revenues, she added.

She affirmed with confidence to media persons that Dattatraya has assured of taking up the issue with Union Minister JP Nadda and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and would ask the centre to give an cancel the GO 727.

Previously, The Telangana Beedi Manufacturers Association in Nizamabad has called for 10-day strike over centre's norm directing the enlargement of danger sign of skull with bone from 45 percent to 85 percent on beedi bundles.