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Why not the tribals get a slice of tendu pie?
Even though the beedi industry is in doldrums for the last few years for various reasons, the trade is still alive and kicking as it involves crores of rupees right from the collection of Tendu (Diospyros melanoxylon) leaves, one of the minor forest produces, to rolling of poor man’s cigarette. Thanks to the vested interests of the political clout that supports the trade resisting the government’s
Khammam/Adilabad/Warangal: Even though the beedi industry is in doldrums for the last few years for various reasons, the trade is still alive and kicking as it involves crores of rupees right from the collection of Tendu (Diospyros melanoxylon) leaves, one of the minor forest produces, to rolling of poor man’s cigarette. Thanks to the vested interests of the political clout that supports the trade resisting the government’s control policies.
Though beedis remains largely untaxed compared to the taxation of cigarettes, the fact is that the benefits reaped by the industry are not percolating either to beedi-rollers or to Tendu leaf collectors, as one would have imagined. Apart from being exposed to deadly diseases, the workers are still paid poor wages even after a hard day’s labour.
“The middlemen and the contractors are the major beneficiaries,” Girijan Sangham Telangana State president M Sobhan Naik said, pointing to the necessity of establishing beedi industries at Bhadrachalam and Yellandu in Khammam district by the government itself.
The tribal fora's contention is that despite tendu leaves collection is a major source of income to those living in forest fringe areas, especially tribals; the workers are not getting their due. All India Agricultural Workers Union (AIAWU) Telangana State General Secretary B Venkat says: “The government needs to understand that tendu leaf collection is a means of livelihood for lakhs of tribals.
It should focus on alternative uses of leaf in the backdrop of diminishing patronage to beedis.” Instead of transporting leaves to somewhere else, it could be used locally whether it’s for beedi rolling or any other purpose to generate employment in the region,” he added.
CPI-ML New Democracy State leader Kechela Ranga Reddy said that demand for establishing beedi industry in Bhadrachalam Agency is an age-old one. It would also augur well for the tribals of Chhattisgarh. Stating that beedi industry is dying fast, the Telangana Beedi Leaves and Forest Contractors Association secretary P Varaprasada Rao felt that it may not be wise to encourage the trade.
As of now, the government should ensure leaf collection across the State a success. It might be noted here that more than half of the tendu leaf collection units in Telangana were unsold leaving thousands of forest dwellers high and dry last year. Of the total 339 units in the state, the government was able to sell just 128 units last year.
