Has diversified into sectors like apparel-making, food processing, IT
The Kerala Dinesh Beedi Workers’ Central Cooperative Society (KDBWCCS), comprising a number of primary societies spread over Kannur, Kasaragod districts and Vadakara in Kozhikode, is celebrating its 50th anniversary with year-long functions.
Announcing this at a press conference here on Wednesday, organising committee chairman and trade union leader K.P. Sahadevan and society management representatives said that when the 50th anniversary of the industrial cooperative society was being celebrated, beedi making was one of the activities of the society as it had already branched off to non-beedi sectors such as apparel-making, umbrella production, food processing and IT sectors. Explaining the history of the cooperative society, which during its peak business period had employed 42,000 people, Mr. Sahadevan said the KDBWCCS was formed in 1969 in the aftermath of a major crisis that beedi workers in the northern Kerala had faced when major beedi manufacturing companies with headquarters in Mangalore closed down their units in the northern parts of Kerala in 1968 in response to workers’ agitation demanding implementation of the Beedi and Cigar Workers’ Conditions of Employment Act that guaranteed minimum wages.
The Left government that came to power in 1967 had committed to the implementation of the Central legislation.
The workers’ share had been fixed at ₹20, but the then State government had extended ₹19 as a share capital loan to each worker.
Today, the society employs nearly 6,000 workers, he said.
Founding day
On the founding day on February 15, workers, trade union leaders and local people’s representatives would hoist the society’s flag in all the offices and branches of the society.
On February 22, Industries Minister E.P. Jayarajan would inaugurate a function in Kannur to felicitate retired workers and director board members.
Similar function would be held at Kanhangad on February 23, the organisers said. The formal inauguration of the function would be done by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on March 9, they added.
Society chairman C. Rajan and secretary K. Prabhakaran said that the society’s total turnover in 2017-18 was ₹75 crore, around ₹55 crore of which was from sale of beedis.
₹18 crore as GST
The company is annually paying around ₹18 crore as GST.
The society had been bestowed awards by industries organisation for fair business practices.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Kerala / by Special Correspondent / Kannur – February 13th, 2019