Beedi

·         On May 22, 2008 Healis-Sekhsaria Institute for Public Health, a NGO, working in the field of public health in India and other developing countries, demanded a tax on “beedi” to discourage smoking habits of people.

·         The NGO in its report on various issues related to 'beedis' said these are smoked almost eight times more than cigarettes since these are affordable.

·         'Beedis' are Indian hand-rolled option of cigarellos, made from dust and flakes of dark tobacco, and rolled into tendu leaves instaed or paper.

·         The report said that 'beedis' kills more Indians than all other forms of tobacco put together. Hence, it was necessary to discourage people from its use

·         It urged the government to undertake programmes to make people aware of harmful effects of 'beedis' as the users of this product are mostly illiterate

·         P.C. Gupta, director-research of the NGO, said "There are over 100 million `beedi' smokers in the country and the poor are most affected. `Beedi' workers in India are exploited, and they earn as little as Rs.29-64 per 1,000 `beedis' rolled, sometimes even less. Yet, there is little help that is currently available to them by way of education or assistance - moral, financial, health"