TIMES NEWS NETWORKMangaluru: Beedi rolling workers and contractors in Dakshina Kannada have raised concerns over the arrival of manufactured beedis from West Bengal to the district. They have urged the govt to ensure that beedi supplies from other states do not affect the livelihood of thousands of families dependent on the industry in the district.Beedi contractor Sanjeeva Poojary Koorelu said that a delegation met Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai to seek govt support for the fraternity. He said the MLA discussed various issues, including minimum wages, job security forbeedi rolling workers, and commission for the contractors.“We brought to the MLA’s attention a major problem contractors are currently facing locally. More than two crore beedis are coming into our district every week from West Bengal. Because labour wages are very low there, beedis are being purchased at a lower price, brought here, and labelled here. If beedis continue to come in this way, the demand for local beedis will drop, and it may become difficult to provide work for labourers in our region,” he said. Therefore, he said the MLA has been requested to issue appropriate instructions not to purchase beedis from outside states. “We strongly oppose any measures that will harm local laborers,” he added.MLA Ashok Kumar Rai said that the wages and bonuses fixed by the govt should be properly provided to the beedi workers in the region. He added that workers should get more work, and work should not be reduced,especially during the rainy season. The MLA said that if necessary, meetings will be called in the coming days to take a final and firm decision regarding the rights of workers.
