Karimnagar: The managements of beedi units across the state and in the rest of the country will be closed from February 15 to 24 to protest the order of the Union ministry of health and family welfare instructing them to carry pictorial warnings on the harmful effects of smoking on beedi packets.
The suggested pictorial warnings include crossed bones and skull, and images of damaged chest and mouth cancer. It its Order No. 729, the government directed that the warning should occupy 85 per cent of the package space from April 1. The units were asked to alter the warning every three months and also print the date of manufacture and expiry on the products.
The shutdown is likely to hit two lakh women employees of the district who roll beedis to make a living. The district has around 15 units in which over 1.5 lakh women employees are engaged in rolling beedis. About 50,000 people get jobs indirectly.
The managements fear that the pictorial warnings would have a negative impact on sales, resulting in losses to the units which were already on the verge of closure due to stiff competition from manufacturers of cigarettes. Currently, the warning is carried on packets, occupying 50 per cent of space.
During a meeting held in Nizamabad, various trade unions resolved to oppose the order. They called for closing of units nationwide from February 15.
Suthari Ramulu, state joint secretary of the union, demanded that the Union government withdraw the order immediately.
He stated that they would make a representation to Nizamabad MP K. Kavitha who would participate in a programme in Koratla on Saturday.
The Union health ministry issued an order directing units to print pictorial warnings covering 85 per cent of package space on beedi packets from April 1.
The units were asked to alter the warning every three months and directed to print date of manufacture and expiry on the products.
Trade unions of 14 states including Telangana, AP, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra will shut in protest of the order from February 15 to 24. About eight lakh people across the states depend on the beedi sector.
