Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Skull and bones

The Centre's decision to make mandatory the printing of the health warning sign, of skull and crossed bones, on beedi packets from February 1, 2007, is snowballing into a major issue ahead of the Karimnagar Lok Sabha byelection. There have been heated exchanges between TDP and Congress MPs. But it is gradually becoming a poll stunt with the real issue being relegated to the background.

One wonders how lakhs of people will lose their jobs if the sign is printed on the packets. The argument that people will give up smoking beedis on seeing the picture of a skull and crossed bones is exaggerated.

K.J. Rao,
Secunderabad

It was amusing to read that the Rajya Sabha was adjourned over the beedi workers' issue on November 28. Stringent regulations are necessary to discourage people from doing things that are injurious to their health.

The skull and bones, symbols of health hazard, on beedi labels will caution smokers. Discouraging smoking is a people-friendly act and the Government deserves to be praised for doing so.

Mehr Unnisa Rahmani,
Vellore

If the politicians indeed want to help the beedi workers, they should find ways of providing alternative employment opportunities to them.

Kandibanda Indira,
Hyderabad

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