The Federation of All India Farmers Association (FAIFA) has appealed to the Centre to safeguard farmer livelihoods by withholding a proposal to increase the size in health warnings on tobacco products.
The Health Ministry has come up with a proposal for 85 per cent of pictorial warnings on both sides of cigarette pack, a move being opposed by tobacco sector.
In a statement released here on Tuesday, FAIFA general secretary P.S. Murali Babu said that FCV tobacco growers had been facing difficulties due to the punitive taxation and stringent regulations.
The legal cigarette industry, which has a minority share of only 12 pc of tobacco in India, is already under a lot of pressure because of peaking taxation and strict regulatory measures, which has taken a huge toll on the business of the FCV farmers.
``We appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to uphold the due democratic, parliamentary and legislative process and allow it to prevail in India and not get side-tracked by allowing undue, fast-tracked benefits to foreign powers who would benefit from the untimely demise of Indian tobacco industry and tobacco farming in India,’’ said Mr. Murali Babu.
The Parliamentary Committee on Subordinate Legislation constituted to review the rules under Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products Act 2003 (COTPA) had tabled its recommendations after hectic consultation with all stakeholder groups and the concerned ministries.
It recommended warning size to be capped at 50 pc of cigarette pack on both sides which is an increase of 250 pc of space and 50 pc on one side for beedis, khainis, etc.
