Thousands of micro-retailers from across the State, affiliated to the Mumbai Bidi Tambaku Sangh, gathered at Azad Maidan on Monday to protest the Union Health Ministry’s restrictions on sale of non-tobacco products by them.
Besides tobacco products, these shops also sell items like bread, eggs, juices, soft drinks, wafers, chocolates. The agitators asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and withdraw the proposed restrictions, failing which they should be provided with permanent government jobs.
Shashank Rao, president, Mumbai Bidi Tambakhu Vyapari Sangh, said, “Micro-retailers represent the poorer sections of societies, and their families are mainly dependent upon the sales of tobacco and non-tobacco products. If the restrictions are enforced, it would mean a major loss for them families.”
Nandkumar Hegishte, the sangh’s working president, added, “If this suggestion is not rolled back, small retailers will be forced to resort to illegal activities to survive. This will make them more vulnerable. The proposed restrictions are against the government’s promise of ‘ Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas ’, and will have a destructive effect.”
Arun Sawant, president, Kolhapur District Association, said, “In a democracy, everyone should have the right to representation before giving verdicts which may have a life-defining impact. It is unfortunate that the Union Health Ministry has not consulted petty retailers, nor taken their interests into consideration.”
He added, “Any restriction on the products sold by us will cause an adverse financial impact as we have fixed regular clientele, and some of them will permanently leave us if we are not able to cater to their needs. In any locality, there is no restriction on the number of petty retail outlets. If we are forced to sell only one kind of goods, there won’t be enough customers to make it viable for us.”
