Pictorial warning notification on Tobacco Products withdrawn by BMS efforts.

The Health Ministry has withdrawn its notification GSR No. 248 dated 13.04.2020 which made a
mandatory Four colour printing of pictorial warning on all types of packaging materials including
wholesale packages which a consumer cannot see. Around 2crores of Beedi Industry dependents and
Tendu leaf pluckers will have “ a sigh of relief ‘ by this decision of Government of India.
BMS expresses its’ sincere thanks to both Health Ministry and Labour Ministry for their timely
action and understanding the problems of Beedi workers who consists mostly Rural poor & Urban slums
also belongs to SC/ST/OBC and Muslim women. At the same time, BMS also expresses its gratitude to
Shri J.P. Nadda, President BJP for his timely intervention which made things very smooth.
The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) has strongly opposed this notification saying it will
hamper the livelihoods of millions of Beedi Industry dependents and requested Hon. Union Health
Minister Dr Harshvardhan to withdraw the Notification immediately. In this regard, BMS wrote letters to
Hon. Health Minister , Hon Labour Minister and also to Sri JP Nadda, President BJP requesting them to
intervene and bring justice.Since June delegations met different officials requesting them to withdraw the
Notification.
The Akhil Bharatiya Beedi Mazdoor Mahasangh of BMS had contacted different Beedi
manufactures and impressed upon them for the need of joint efforts to save the Beedi Industry for which
the All India Beedi Industries Federation (AIBIF ) too agreed. Pressure has mounted on the Government
by both Employees and Employers.
On 13 th July a Joint delegation of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh ( BMS) & All India Beedi
Industries Federation (AIBIF) had met Hon. Union Labour Minister Shri Santosh Gangwar and briefed
him about the pathetic situations of Beedi Industry, the difficulties faced by both workers and
manufacturers. BMS continuously followed up with the Labour Ministry and Health Ministry officials.
As a result of continuous and relentless efforts of BMS, the Health Ministry has withdrawn the
GSR 248 dated 13.04.2020 and brought a new Notification GSR No: 454 & 458 dated 21-07-2020. As
per the amendments of new notifications, the pictorial warning on wholesale packaging has cancelled.
This is one the success of joint efforts of workers representative (BMS) and Industry representative
(AIBIF) to save Beedi Industry as well as beedi workers. Now, Beedi Industry had withdrawn its
decision of closing the industry from 01-01-2020.
Now, BMS requests the Government of India, to separate Beedi from other tobacco products and
also to provide at least 20days of job per month per person throughout the country. BMS also demands
the Government of India to call an Inter-ministerial meeting to comprehensively think on the measures
needed to protect Beedi Industry.