Digital Desk: In the upcoming fourth Union Budget which is to be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, on February 1, 2022, amid many speculations about inclusions or hikes in prices of commodities, the economic arm of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh(
RSS) along with Swadeshi Jagran Manch (
SJM), has urged the center to cut tariff on a local tobacco product, ‘Bidi’ which is also known as a ‘ poor man’s cigarette’.
Earlier on Friday morning, while addressing a virtual press meet, the SJM co-convenor Ashwani Mahajan urged the Central government to keep ‘Bidis’ away from the list of products that are about to face a hike in prices.
Ashwani Mahajan believes that a hike in tax on ‘bidis’ will push livelihoods of lacs of daily waged workers who are associated with the industry towards darkness, or at worst out of no choice left with them may push them to ‘
Naxalism’.
Also Read:
BJP tops among the richest party in 2019-2020: ADR Report
"Bidi industry is believed to be providing employment and livelihood to 4-4.5 crore people in the country. Most of these workers are women from poor households and those who collect 'tendu' leaves used in the production of the product," he said.
The proposed changes, he said, will also significantly affect the bidi-making industry as obtaining licenses, permissions, and registrations for manufacturing, selling, and distributing any tobacco product will become mandatory.
Leave A Comment