Udupi: Various beedi workers unions from the district held a huge protest rally against the union government for the implementation of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) (Amendment) Bill 2015(COTPA) in front of DC office at Manipal here on Tuesday, March 17.

The rally was organised from Tiger Circle to the DC office. They demanded the withdrawal of the proposed Bill to protect the beedi industry, which is the livelihood for lakhs of families in the district.

While addressing the protesters Balakrishna Shetty, secretary, CITU Udupi demanded an alternative option for beedi workers, before amending COTPA Bill 2015. He said the government either must take back the amendment or provide an alternative source of income to lakhs of families who are completely depended on beedi making.

In Udupi there are around 1.5 Lakh people dependent on the beedi industry. In the state there are 10 lakhs, and 4.5 Crore in India, this number indicates the importance of this industry in our country he added .

He further put forward the demand that the beedi workers should be provided with BPL cards, housing loans, educational scholarship for their kids and pension, provide welfare funds and so on.

Mahabala Voderahobli president district bidi workers Foundation, K Laxman general secretary and others were present.