Kavitha for reducing size of skull pic on beedi pack

Hyderabad: Nizamabad MP K Kavitha on Sunday urged the Centre to reduce the size of the “skull” printed on bundles of Beedi packs. The MP called on Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Bandaru Dattatraya at Dilkusha Guest House and handed over a letter protesting against the decision to increase the size of the “skull.”

Speaking to reporters, Kavitha said she had urged Dattatraya to protect the Beedi industry in the State from facing closure by implementing the decision. The Centre should give exemption to the Beedi industry by repealing GO 727 as it would have an adverse impact on the Beedi industry, she said.

Dattatraya said he would take up the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda in this regard, she said. Dattatraya also said that he would ask the Centre to remove the picture of “skull” on Beedi bundles, she said. The closure of Beedi industries would throw 1.50 crore workers out of the work, she said.

Kavitha exuded confidence that the Centre would withdraw its decision and protect workers' interests. She opposed the Centre’s decision of covering the Beedi bundles with 85 per cent picture of skull. She asked Dattatraya to ensure cancellation of the GO since about 1.5 crore workers, most of them women, were eking out a living on manufacturing beedies at their homes and companies, and the decision would hamper their revenue, she said.

Reacting to Congress leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka’s criticism on Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao’s PowerPoint presentation on irrigation projects, she said the former and his colleagues had run away from the Assembly. If the Congress conducted a similar presentation, the TRS leaders would attend it, she said.