'New law puts paan, bidi sellers in same crime list category as acid throwers'

Federation of Retailer Association of India FRAI a representative body of about 4 crore micro small and medium retailers from across the country on Thursday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and order a recall of the proposed 2020 amendments in the COTPA law which threaten to further attack the livelihoods of petty retailers selling tobacco and related products across IndiaFRAI represents the interests of the poorest of the poor in the country and raises issues which impact their employment opportunities and also render help to such people who are unable to express their viewsFRAI members sustain their livelihood by selling goods of daily needs which are demanded by general public like biscuits soft drinks mineral water cigarettes bidi pan etc in the neighbourhood The profit of these micro retailers in selling these essential products works out to about Rs 15000 per month which is barely adequate to feed two square meals a day to their family membersThe Coronavirus triggered lockdowns and economic destruction has further damaged the economic condition of small retailers and any further adverse policy which destabilizes their business activity will be devastatingFRAI and its member organisations from all over the country are disturbed by the undemocratic amendment of CoTPA bill 2020 proposed by the Ministry of Health which disallows retail sale of loose sticks of cigarettes prohibits sale of tobacco products persons below 21 years put controls on inshop advertising and promotion amongst others as they seemed to be aimed at destroying the business for the smaller retailers without impacting large retailersSpeaking on the issue Ram Asre Mishra President Federation of Retailers Association of India said We humbly appeal for the Honble Prime Ministers empathy and request him to instruct the designated ministry to immediately roll back the proposed COTPA amendments as they are extremely harsh By making age old trade practices like selling loose cigarettes a cognizable offence and an imprisonment of 7 years for small violations makes small traders look like heinous criminals Compared to a 2year imprisonment for extortion or for dangerous driving that can cause death this is the extreme of the extremes This puts paan bidi and cigarette sellers in the same crime list category as a person voluntarily throwing acid on someone or causing death by negligence etc How can anybody be so insensitive while drafting the amendment towards poor marginalized people who are struggling to earn their daily livingAlready India has the toughest tobacco control laws in the world which has led to degrowth in legal tobacco consumption Current laws have only helped illicit and smuggled cigarettes to grow benefiting antisocial elements Then why these extra harsh tobacco control measures have become more important than other health issues like fighting deadly diseases such as coronavirus diabetes obesity mental health and diseases caused by rising air pollution etc Unlike Coronavirus policy changes like these are totally in the hands of our policy makers and should be given a serious human consideration Today we feel victimised and targeted as a community and plead for the mercy of PM Modi he addedGulab Chand Khoda Joint Secretary FRAI said Our members provide various products to consumers based on the necessities The tobacco products such as cigarettes and bidis are also included in the products offered by our members As per law we do not sell do not sell tobacco products to minors In a congested and heavily populated cities such a restriction is impractical Petty retailers will have to vacate their place without any means to support their livelihoodsThe suggested amendment prohibits sale of tobacco products persons below 21 years earlier this was 18 yearsIn India an 18yearold person can cast hisher vote to elect government of choice get a driving license But it is draconian that same person cannot exercise their choice when it to comes to buying a tobacco product which is sold legally The existing law already prohibits sale of cigarettes to minors so there is no cause for concern that persons who do not understand implications are buying tobacco products the FRAI saidFRAI believes that few NGOs who work for foreign companies are constantly pressurizing the government to enforce unfair and unimplementable laws against small shopkeepers These policies are helping big foreign and ecommerce companies at the cost of business of petty retailersFRAI and its members requested the Government to be practical and equitable especially for the lowest socioeconomic strata of society who are already struggling to make two ends meet and not impose such harsh arbitrary and unreasonable restrictions on our right to trade and livelihoodKeep scrolling to read more newsCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates MidDay is now on Telegram Click here to join our channel middayinfomedialtd and stay updated with the latest newsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever